In June of 2006, the legend that is Tom Waits wrote the following endearing letter to a 15-year-old named Colin, in response to a piece of fan mail written by the teenager a few months previous. It was accompanied by a signed photo, also seen below. The opening joke of Waits’ charming letter can be explained by Colin’s hometown of Palestine, Illinois.

Transcript follows.

(Source: Colin; Image above, via.)

Transcript

Jun 6, 2006

Colin,

You’re from Palestine? How did you find the time to write….given all the trouble you are having with Israel? Good to hear from you, your sister has good taste, so do you. Allow me to formally encourage to write things down, so when you make it you can say, and I can say, I was in your corner all along. Thanks for all your kind words, always good to hear from the younger generation telling me I have value and relevance. Stay at it Colin. Lots of great people come from Illinois because it’s so flat you have to dream up everything, that’s what my wife says….she’s from there, & lots of Presidents are from Illinois. OK Colin go out there and take the world by the tail, pull it down, wrap it around and put it in your pocket.

Warmly,

(Signed, ‘Tom Waits’)