In 1980, we learned who shot J.R. In 2005, we learned the identity of “Deep Throat.” And this week, we learned the secret behind another of the great mysteries of the ages: It seems that Neil Diamond's song “Sweet Caroline” was inspired by young Caroline Kennedy.

Neil Diamond has been carrying this secret around for almost 40 years. However, last week he had the opportunity to tell Caroline Kennedy that a photograph of her had been his muse. And this week, he told the world.

"It was a picture of a little girl dressed to the nines in her riding gear, next to her pony ... It was such an innocent, wonderful picture, I immediately felt there was a song in there."

He didn't write the song until a few years later, though — in about an hour in a Memphis hotel room.

“It was a No. 1 record and probably is the biggest, most important song of my career, and I have to thank her for the inspiration ... I'm happy to have gotten it off my chest and to have expressed it to Caroline. I thought she might be embarrassed, but she seemed to be struck by it and really, really happy.”

You remember the song, don't you? Take a moment to reminisce and check out a video from 1971. Be sure to pound out the three beats after “sweet Caroline” ...

(And this one is just for the Red Sox fans out there. No explanation necessary.)

Now, I'm giving Neil Diamond the benefit of the doubt that Kennedy either was the inspiration but not the literal subject matter, or that the lyrics are not as adult as they seem. Because I like Neil Diamond and don't want him to sing about “touchin' me, touchin' you” to little girls.

And I respect Caroline Kennedy, who has always seemed very cool to me. She was raised in the spotlight and has experienced more personal tragedy than most of us will ever know. Regardless, she's educated and accomplished and has done her share of good works. And she grew up right pretty, too.

Ergo, if she's happy to be “Sweet Caroline,” I'm happy for her.

Of course, now I cannot help but wonder a little about other great song mysteries. Who is Barry Manilow's “Mandy?” (Apparently, the report that she was his dog is an urban myth.) What does “American Pie” really mean? And, as the linster asked when I mentioned the “Sweet Caroline” revelation, will Carly Simon ever tell us who was “so vain”?