the collaboration was born when cantrell thought the track could use a little piano, so a friend of his, baldy, who had worked with elton john before, suggested the band should call him. john was recording down the hall in the studio the band was working in, so cantrell sent him a note and a tape explaining that this was the title track and "a song from the heart for layne", and asked, "would you consider playing some keyboards on it, whatever the hell you want?" a week later, cantrell was out to lunch during a studio break and his cell phone rang. the studio manager called him and said that elton john wanted to talk "right now". cantrell left his burger sitting on the plate and rushed back. john said he was moved by the track, was a fan of alice's and layne's and would be glad to play on it. a few weeks later, the band flew to las vegas and cantrell watched john add piano to the song, the band's first signature piano track. john also sings backing vocals on the track, which he recorded in a las vegas studio on april 23, 2009 while he was finishing his "red piano" residency.