Put the Bucket Down

"Put the Bucket Down"
Single by Peter Gabriel
from the album O\I
Released	1 February 2026
Studio	Real World (Wiltshire) The Beehive (London) British Grove (London) Fonoprint (Bologna)
Length	6:47 (Bright-Side mix) 6:56 (Dark-Side mix)
Label	Real World
Songwriter	Peter Gabriel
Producer	Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel singles chronology
"Been Undone" (2026) "Put the Bucket Down" (2026)

"Put the Bucket Down" is a song by English musician Peter Gabriel. It was released on 1 February 2026 through Real World Records. The song was produced by Gabriel and is the second single from his upcoming eleventh studio album O\I (2026). The song's "Bright-Side mix" (done by Mark "Spike" Stent) was released first, with the "Dark-Side mix" (by Tchad Blake) following on 17 February. ^[1]

Background

Gabriel constructed "Put the Bucket Down" around what he described as a "lop-sided loop". After the conclusion of the band sessions, Gabriel asked John Metcalfe to create an orchestral motif, which was "scribbled out on the day in the studio." Included on the song are Paolo Fresu and Josh Shpak on brass instruments, the latter of whom also toured with Gabriel on his I/O The Tour. ^[1]

On the subject of the song, Gabriel stated: "The 'bucket' is all the crap that goes around our head all the time, so it is putting the bucket down to find your way forward". ^[2] The cover art for the single features Cosmic Spider/Web by Argentine artist Tomás Saraceno. ^[3] Cyrtophora citricola, Nephila senegalensis, and Holocnemus pluchei spiders were used to create the artwork, and are also credited with its authorship. ^{[1] [4]}

Gabriel mentioned in a press release statement coinciding with the release of "Put the Bucket Down" that he intended for the song to be part of a side project centered around the brain, an idea that was spurred after a meeting with Mary Lou Jepsen. He commented that he "became very fascinated with the idea of the brain / computer interface and what consequences that might bring to the world. This is one of the reasons that the brain show came up..." ^{[5] [6]}

Personnel

Adapted from Gabriel's website: ^[7]

Musicians Peter Gabriel – lead and backing vocals, piano, synthesizer, keyboard bass, rhythm programming Tony Levin – bass David Rhodes – electric guitar, backing vocals Katie May – acoustic guitar Paolo Fresu – trumpet [a] Josh Shpak – trumpet, French horn Brian Eno – rhythm programming Oli Jacobs – rhythm programming Richard Chappell – rhythm programming Ríognach Connolly – backing vocals Melanie Gabriel – backing vocals

New Blood Orchestra violin – Everton Nelson, Richard George, Natalia Bonner, Cathy Thompson, Debbie Widdup, Odile Ollagnon, Ian Humphries, Louisa Fuller, Martin Burgess, Clare Hayes, Charles Mutter, Marianne Hayne viola – Bruce White, Rachel Roberts, Fiona Bonds, Peter Lale flute – Eliza Marshall cello – Ian Burdge, Caroline Dale, Tony Woollard, Chris Worsey, William Schofield, Chris Allen double bass – Chris Laurence, Lucy Shaw, Stacey Watton orchestral arrangement by John Metcalfe with Peter Gabriel conducting – John Metcalfe

Charts

Chart performance for "Put the Bucket Down"

Chart (2026)	Peak position
UK Singles Sales (OCC) [8]	95

Notes

1. Bright-Side mix only

References

1. Farrell, Margaret (1 February 2026). "Peter Gabriel – "Put The Bucket Down"". Stereogum. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
2. Bonner, Michael (1 February 2026). "Listen to Peter Gabriel's new track, "Put The Bucket Down"". Uncut. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
3. Ewing, Jerry (1 February 2026). ""The 'bucket' is all the crap that goes around our head all the time." Peter Gabriel shares new single Put The Bucket Down". Prog. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
4. Sinclair, Paul (2 February 2026). "Peter Gabriel / Put The Bucket Down". SuperDeluxeEdition. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
5. Kreps, Daniel (1 February 2026). "Peter Gabriel Shares New Song 'Put the Bucket Down' From Upcoming Album" . Rolling Stone . Retrieved 21 February 2026.
6. "Put the Bucket Down Dark-Side". PeterGabriel.com. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
7. "Put the Bucket Down". PeterGabriel.com. 1 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
8. "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 17 February 2026.