If Thom Yorke actually still beileved in Santa Claus, that would be vaguely charming. But Yorke recently published a letter to jolly old Saint Nick, and it wasn’t of his own volition. Instead, as NME points out, Yorke wrote the letter at the behest of Letters Live, an offshoot of Shaun Usher’s book Letters Of Note. As part of the holiday festivities, celebrities like Benedict Cumberbatch and Jarvis Cocker are writing letters to Father Christmas. Yorke says some nice things to Santa, and he also asks for snow, reading glasses, and for Santa to withhold any gifts to oil-company beneficiaries: “since i wrote to you last when i was 9 i have tried to be good, but sometimes failed spectacularly. i have also tried to do what i’m told but often have delighted in doing the exact opposite. but always i have tried to give love and try not to cause hurt.” Read the whole letter below.

dear father christmas

it is years since i wrote to you.
i hope this letter finds you well and that the snow is still continuing to fall up in lapland.

here it is mostly rain. not even jumper weather yet!
but the christmas albums are already being played in the shops.
that must be so embarrassing for you.

i know this year you will be exceptionally busy for you.
we all expect a little too much of you now i think.
and there are so many imposters on television. even in the street.

since i wrote to you last when i was 9 i have tried to be good, but sometimes failed spectacularly.
i have also tried to do what i’m told but often have delighted in doing the exact opposite.
but always i have tried to give love and try not to cause hurt.

so
dear father christmas
what i’m saying is ..

now that i’m 47, if i have any last remaining credit with you, i have just these small requests.

that my kids have a beautiful christmas
with love and understanding and peace.
perhaps some heavy snow? that would be really great.
and can you just send the precious things that will really mean something to them?
and can you send them some hope for the future. that is very important.

i won’t ask you to solve the problems of the human race. those are our problems alone.

but perhaps this year you would consider not giving any presents to oil company executives and the politicians whose influence they buy?

and for me? just some reading glasses.. : / the blue ones.

yours completely sincerely

Thom

p.s. thanks for the zx81 computer when i was 11. that was really wicked.