Songs
For context notes on each song, see below. If you just want to hear them played in sequence, go to the playlist.
(If the songs don't appear below, there's a temporary problem with SoundCloud.)
(If the songs don't appear below, there's a temporary problem with SoundCloud.)
Sunflower Power
The opening number. A fired-up Vinnie is painting sunflower pictures for Paul’s arrival; Paul, from a cosmic viewpoint, hints at how the story's going to end.
Our Little Yellow House
Vinnie sings of his excitement at Paul's imminent arrival.
Travellin' South
Paul’s on a train heading to Arles, musing on his past adventures and his desire to follow wherever the money leads him.
A Fistful of Brushes
Paul arrives at Vinnie’s yellow house and they look forward to setting up their artists' colony together.
Me and My Mind
Vinnie orders his mind to cease and desist - he doesn’t want his mental health issues to screw up his plans.
Like a Painter Man (LIVE - phone audio)
Paul, initially sceptical of coming to Arles, is surprised to find himself getting along with Vinnie and enjoying life in the town - especially the night life.
Take a Trip into Your Mind (not yet recorded)
Forced to work indoors because of rain, Paul is happy - he prefers painting from his imagination anyway, and tries to cajole Vinnie into doing the same. But Vinnie doesn’t like what’s in his imagination.
Hold Me
Vinnie admits to himself that he’s in love with Paul and fantasises about revealing his feelings.
Keep Him Sweet
Paul is starting to get annoyed by Vinnie’s many eccentricities, but keeps his mind on the money (Vinnie’s brother Theo is paying for them both to be there, and he’s also a powerful art dealer in Paris: it’s canny for Paul to keep on Vinnie’s good side).
Wheatfield with Crows
CONTENT WARNING: Suicide. You can find FREE help at samaritans.org and mind.org.uk.
For the third time in the show, Vinnie wakes up screaming, and this time we find out what he’s been dreaming about - a vision of the field where he shoots himself later in life (his disputed final painting was A Wheatfield with Crows).
Nominated for the Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize 2022.
For the third time in the show, Vinnie wakes up screaming, and this time we find out what he’s been dreaming about - a vision of the field where he shoots himself later in life (his disputed final painting was A Wheatfield with Crows).
Nominated for the Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize 2022.
Way Past Midnight
Paul has woken up in the middle of the night to find Vinnie staring down at him. The next morning, he demands to know what was going on.
Second Coming
Plagued by the demons in his mind, Vinnie develops a Messiah complex in order to cope. Paul witnesses his ravings with a mixture of awe and repulsion. (In real life, Vincent scrawled ‘I am whole of spirit, I am the Holy Spirit’ on one of the inside walls of the little yellow house).
Hotel Van Gogh
Alarmed at Vinnie's increasingly extreme behaviour, Paul is all set to leave. But Houston, we have a problem...
Something's Coming
Forced to be together till the next payment comes from Theo, Vinnie and Paul both privately ponder that something bad is on the horizon.
Two Nights Before Christmas
Doomy cosmic view song to introduce the terrible night of 23 Dec 1888 - the night that Vinnie threatened Paul with a razor, and then cut his own left ear off.
Please Don't Go (not finished)
Short song in which Vinnie begs Paul to stay, but he’s also confusing him with his brother Theo, his only supporter, who is getting married and therefore leaving Vincent in a different way.
Paint a Pretty Picture (not finished)
Drunk, Paul blurts out how he really feels about Vinnie’s cherished artists’ colony.
Squeeze Me Dry
Vinnie expresses his total loss of hope. WARNING: this song is about suicidal thoughts - if you need help, go to samaritans.org and mind.org.uk
Welcome to My Funeral
After threatening Paul with a razor, Vincent turns to suicidal thoughts. He ends the song in a horrific act of self harm. WARNING: this song is about suicidal thoughts and self harm - if you need help, go to samaritans.org and mind.org.uk
Paint Me the Villain
From a cosmic viewpoint, Paul expresses his knowledge of how badly posterity has judged him.
What Happens in Vegas
What really happened that dark December night to cause Vinnie to cut his ear off? Our two hosts suggest that we may never know the answer.
Red is the Colour
In the final song of the show, the two painters reflect on how life can be terribly hard but also bearable and beautiful.