Hold Back The River

by James Bay
Loading song
Fetching song
1
โ€”
Personalize the finger hints for your handsPick your hand size and we'll re-suggest this song's fingering to fit you.Personalize
More ways to play
Sing this song instead โ€” backing track for โ€œHold Back The Riverโ€
Backing track + lyrics โ€” 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.

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 โ€” Piano Lead Sheet

5 people have learned this song

"Hold Back The River" lead sheet with chords, melody, and lyrics. Play the melody while following chord symbols above. Perfect for sing-along or accompaniment. Key of C, 116 BPM.

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

About โ€œHold Back The Riverโ€

Where are the chord symbols for "Hold Back The River" displayed?
Lead Sheet shows chord symbols (like Am, G7, C) above the melody line with lyrics below. Every chord change highlights in real time as the song plays, so you can play the melody with the right hand and follow chord shapes with the left. "Hold Back The River" is in C.
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 โ€” 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 โ€” 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.
Does "Hold Back The River" have chords and lyrics?
Yes! The Lead Sheet shows the melody with chord symbols (like Am, G, C) and full lyrics. Perfect for singing along or playing with a band. "Hold Back The River" is in the key of C at 116 BPM.
What chords are in "Hold Back The River"?
Open the Lead Sheet to see all chord symbols displayed above the melody line. The song is in the key of C, so you'll find chords common to that key. Each chord highlights in real time as the song plays.