Introduction
Neil Diamond’s “Song Sung Blue”, released in May 1972 from his Moods album, is a deceptively simple yet deeply resonant pop ballad written and performed by Diamond himself . Inspired by the second movement (Andante) of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major (K. 467), Diamond crafted a melody that marries classical elegance with plainspoken emotional clarity .
Diamond described the song as having a “very basic message, unadorned,” admitting in later reflections that he “didn’t even write a bridge to it,” and never anticipated the public’s enthusiastic response . Yet it quickly became one of his most enduring standards. It became his second #1 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, holding the top spot for one week (the week of July 1, 1972), while remaining in the Top 40 for twelve weeks . The song also dominated the Adult Contemporary chart for seven consecutive weeks, and reached #14 in the UK, cementing its international appeal .
Contemporaneous reviews praised its inviting simplicity. Cash Box noted the song turned the phrase “Everybody, sing!” into a meaningful directive, while Record World applauded its commercial soft-pop sound . Diamond’s label head, Russ Regan, confidently predicted the song would become his “biggest copyright ever” — a prediction borne out over time.
Although minimalistic in structure, the arrangement—featuring gentle guitar strums, warm Fender Rhodes, lush strings, and harmonica—creates a warm, comforting atmosphere that invites singalong intimacy . Lyrically, the song meditates on universal sadness (“the blues”) and how transforming it into song can heal: “when you take the blues … and make a song, you sing ’em out again” .
Over decades, “Song Sung Blue” has remained a concert staple for Diamond, later covered by artists like Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra, and the Scottish pop/new-wave group Altered Images; it even lent its name to a 2008 documentary and a forthcoming 2025 feature film about a Neil Diamond tribute band .
With its elegant melody rooted in classical inspiration, candid lyrics about sadness and resilience, and powerful emotional pull, “Song Sung Blue” endures as a defining moment in Neil Diamond’s career and in the canon of early‑1970s pop songwriting.