Lyrics
(Dm)Tried to keep
you close
to me,
but life
got in be tween.
(Dm)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.
(Dm)Once up (F)on
a (Bb)diff
’rent (F)life
we (Bb)rode
our (F)bikes in to the sky.
But (Dm)now we (F)crawl
a (Bb)gainst
the (F)tide.
Those (Bb)dis
tant (F)days are flash ing by.
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 see where you hide.
Hold back the riv er, hold back.
(Dm)Oh, oh, (F)oh,
oh, (Bb)oh,
oh, (F)oh,
oh, (Bb)oh,
oh, (F)oh, 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 (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 River by James Bay
Easy piano arrangement in the key of G at 70 BPM. Difficulty: easy. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.
About “Hold Back The River”
- What key is "Hold Back The River" in?
- "Hold Back The River" by James Bay is in the key of G with a tempo of 70 BPM. Difficulty: easy.
- Is "Hold Back The River" easy to play on piano?
- Yes — this arrangement is rated easy, meaning it uses simple chord patterns and a manageable tempo. Most beginners can play through it in 1-3 practice sessions using our color-coded notes.
- Can I play "Hold Back The River" without reading sheet music?
- Yes. Our player offers a falling-notes mode (Synthesia-style) and a beginner mode with color-coded keys — both let you play along without reading traditional notation.