At the Pearl Jam concert on July 7th, 2006 at the Cox Arena in San Diego, California, lead singer Eddie Vedder had the following to say about this song:

“I want to tell you a little story if I can. It might go on for a couple of minutes…

It has to do with education, and in particular, an educator. Think about your lives, will ya? If you have one teacher that really meant something in your life and that changed your life – raise your hand. Let me see. Keely, let’s see the lights. [House lights go up, crowd cheers – I was there: most hands were up, it was a truly moving sight, a concert memory I’ll never forget.] Not that I wasn’t expecting that – it’s actually a higher percentage than to be expected.

…I just want to tell you a story about my experience if I may. I had a teacher who got me thru some things and taught me so much – a lot of us were touched by him. It was a hard touch. He’s still with us today. Through a campaign of letter writing, a small campaign that came together, we are getting now a theater in Encinitas, in north [San Diego] county named after my teacher. So there’s gonna be a theater up in Encinitas called the Clayton E. Liggett theater. Some of the money from tonight’s tickets go to that. So thank you for participating.

Now, my friend and mentor, Clayton, he’s no longer with us – but he still lives inside all of those that he touched. I remember when I got the call that he had passed.

We were actually in the studio with Neil Young, we were recording a record called “Mirror Ball.” We were in the back room, we were having dinner – I think it was Japanese food. It was Neil and the guys, and we got this phone call. And as soon as I heard who it was, I knew what it was. After I heard the news – even though it was Neil and the guys – I just had to leave the room.

I left the room and went into this empty studio, and I picked up a guitar. I think I was looking for somebody else to talk to, outside the conversation: but there was no one, except for this guitar. So I picked it up, and I hit a chord. And I hit the chord again. I think I was trying to like ring a bell, right? I was trying to ring a bell, to say ‘We lost one of the good ones. This is an important moment in history. We lost one of the good ones.’ So I kept hitting the bell. For like eight minutes. Ten minutes. Then the other guys, and Neil came into the room. Without saying anything or anything, they just picked up their instruments and started hitting the bells. We were all recognizing. We were all ringing the bell. I went up to the mic, and then this song happened.

So, this night is for Clayton, and this song is for Clayton. Thanks for listening."

A concert memory I’ll never forget.

A live staple and a true gem in the Pearl Jam catalog that can help the listener to think of the proverbial Clayton E. Liggett in their life – teacher, family member, pet, whatever the case may be – fondly and realize that as he sings, “there’s no need to say goodbye.”