Other arrangements of Hold Back The River
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(Dm)Tried
(C)to (F)keep
(F)you (Bb)close
(F)to me
(F)but (Bb)life
(F)got in be tween.
the sky.
But (Dm)Tried
(C)to (F)square
(F)not (Bb)be
(F)ing there
(F)but (Bb)think
(F)that I are 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 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.
(Dm)Oh,
(C)oh, (F)oh,
(F)oh, (Bb)oh.
(F)Oh, (Bb)oh,
oh.
(F)Lone ly wa ter,
lone ly wa ter, won’t you (Bb)let us wan der,
(Gm)let us hold each oth er?
(F)Lone ly wa ter,
lone ly wa ter, won’t you (Bb)let us wan der,
(Gm)let us hold each oth er?
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 be by your side.
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 be by your side.
Hold back the riv er, hold back.
Hold back the riv er, hold.
(F)Lone ly wa ter,
lone ly wa ter, won’t you (Bb)let us wan der,
(Gm)let us hold each oth er?
(F)Lone ly wa ter,
lone ly wa ter, won’t you (Bb)let us wan der,
(Gm)let us hold each oth er?
(Gm)let us hold each oth er?
Hold Back The River — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along
6 people have learned this song
Free karaoke for "Hold Back The River" by James Bay: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of Bb, 120 BPM.
This arrangement is a great way to build confidence playing in B♭ major, a key many beginners shy away from but one that feels wonderfully warm once it's under your fingers.
Your left hand holds a steady pedal bass throughout, so start there — lock in that consistent, even rhythm before adding anything on top.
Your right hand cycles through familiar chord shapes like Dm, F, and Gm, but watch the Csus4-to-C resolution carefully; that suspended fourth wants to ring just a beat longer than you'd expect, and rushing it flattens the song's melancholic pull.
At 120 BPM the tempo is moderate, but the B♭-to-Gm transition can trip you up if your thumb isn't already drifting into position.
Practice that two-chord shift slowly, hands separate, until it feels automatic.
Once you're comfortable, loop the chorus a few times and focus on keeping your left-hand pedal rock-steady underneath the chord changes — that independence between hands is the real skill this song builds, and it'll pay off in everything you play next.
Try other practice modes:
About “Hold Back The River”
- What key is "Hold Back The River" by James Bay played in?
- Hold Back The River is arranged in the key of Bb 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 120 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 chords are used in "Hold Back The River"?
- This arrangement uses 7 chords: Bb, C, Cpow, Csus4, Dm, F, Gm.
- 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.
- Is there a karaoke version of "Hold Back The River" with lyrics?
- Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "Hold Back The River" by James Bay. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
- Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
- It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
- Can I change the key of "Hold Back The River" to match my voice or capo?
- Yes. The original is in Bb, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
- Can I slow "Hold Back The River" down to learn the words and chords?
- Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.