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 — Piano Lead Sheet
3 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 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”
- 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 Bb.
- 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.
- 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 Bb at 120 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 Bb, so you'll find chords common to that key. Each chord highlights in real time as the song plays.
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