Why Matt Damon Belted Out ‘Sweet Caroline’ on Live TV

Late night talk shows can get pretty funny, as is the case with NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon."   The host loves music, and actors who can sing, so naturally there's a connection for both to collide.

Fallon writes and performs musical parodies and videos for content to his television show and social media platforms.

Often he invites personal friends on the show, as is the case with Boston's own Matt Damon.   Being born and bread in Boston (Cambridge, actually), Damon spent a lot of time at Fenway Park.

At every Red Sox home game, in the middle of the eighth inning, the crowd sings along joyfully to Neil Diamond's hit song "Sweet Caroline," with gusto and enthusiasm, and it all happens organically.

MLB.com explains how this unlikely tradition came to be.

This all started in 2002, and the rest is history.  Now everyone in America who follows baseball knows about this tradition.

This week Matt Damon was a guest on The Tonight Show, and host Jimmy Fallon talked about a party where the two discussed "go to karaoke songs".  That turned into Damon suggesting they sing "Sweet Caroline" because it's a song everyone can join in on.  So they did, and half the kids ended up dancing on the bar singing the song out loud.

The rest of the story is Damon and Fallon singing the song as the audience joins in gleefully.

Here's the clip from NBC. It was like we were all at Fenway Park eating a Fenway Frank and enjoying an ice cold brew.  It was great fun to watch for those of us from New England.

Watch The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Clip: Matt Damon Sings "Sweet Caroline" with Jimmy; Talks The Instigators and Met Gala Mishap (Extended) - NBC.com