Hold Back The River

by James Bay
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Sing this song instead — backing track for “Hold Back The River”
Backing track + lyrics — toggle the vocal, change the key, practice singing over piano.

Other arrangements of Hold Back The River

Pick a learning view or switch to the backing-track version.

Sheet MusicBar NotationSimple SheetLead SheetKaraoke · LyricsEasy NotesFalling Notes
Also available as a piano backing track
Sheet Music · BackingBar Notation · BackingKaraoke · LyricsFalling Notes · Backing
Lyrics

Tried

to keep

you close

to me,

but life

got in be tween.

Tried

to square

not be

ing there,

but think

that I should have been.

Hold back the riv er, let me look in your eyes.

Hold back the riv er so I

can stop for a min ute and see where you hide.

Hold back the riv er, hold back.

Hold back the riv er, let me look in your eyes.

Hold back the riv er so I

can stop for a min ute and see where you hide.

Hold back the riv er, hold back.

Hold Back The River — Easy Piano Notes for Beginners

5 people have learned this song

Learn "Hold Back The River" on piano with easy notes — perfect for absolute beginners. Large color-coded note names show exactly which keys to press. No music reading required. Key of C, 116 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

Try other practice modes:

Falling NotesLead SheetBar SheetSimple SheetKaraoke

About “Hold Back The River”

Can I play "Hold Back The River" without reading sheet music?
Yes — Easy Notes mode prints the letter name (C, D, E…) directly on each note in big color-coded labels, so you can match colors to your keyboard without any traditional notation. The whole arrangement of "Hold Back The River" is playable in minutes, even for first-time players.
What key is "Hold Back The River" by James Bay played in?
Hold Back The River is arranged in the key of C on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Hold Back The River"?
The arrangement plays at 116 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Hold Back The River" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "Hold Back The River"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Hold Back The River"?
"Hold Back The River" was originally performed by James Bay. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by James Bay can I play here?
Try "NEED THE SUN TO BREAK", "Let It Go", "Wild Love". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Can a complete beginner play "Hold Back The River"?
Absolutely! The Beginner mode shows large color-coded notes with letter names (C, D, E...). Just match the colors to your keyboard — no music reading needed. "Hold Back The River" is perfect for first-time players.
Do I need to read music to play "Hold Back The River"?
No! Our Beginner mode replaces traditional notation with color-coded letter names. Each note shows exactly which key to press. You can start playing "Hold Back The River" in minutes, even if you've never touched a piano before.