What key is "Hold Back The River" in?

"Hold Back The River" by James Bay is in the key of F 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.

What chords are used in "Hold Back The River"?

This arrangement of "Hold Back The River" uses 8 chords: Bb, Bbmaj9, C, Csus4, Dm, F, F6, Gmin.

How long does it take to learn "Hold Back The River" on piano?

1–3 short practice sessions for the basics; 2–3 weeks to perform confidently with both hands.

What other songs by James Bay can I play here?

Try "NEED THE SUN TO BREAK", "Let It Go", "Wild Love". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.

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 (C)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 (C)back.

(Dm)Oh, oh, (F)oh,

oh, (Bb)oh,

oh, (F)oh,

oh, (Bb)oh,

oh, (F)oh, oh, oh.

(F6)Lone ly wa ter,

lone ly wa ter won’t you (Bbmaj9)let us wan der.

(Gm11)Let us hold each oth er.

(F)Lone ly wa ter,

lone ly wa ter won’t you (Bbmaj9)let us wan der.

(Gm11)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 (C)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, oh.

(F)Lone ly wa ter,

lone ly wa ter won’t you (Bbmaj9)let us wan der.

(Gm11)Let us hold (C)each oth er.

(F)Lone ly wa ter,

lone ly wa ter won’t you (Bbmaj9)let us wan der.

(Gm11)Let us hold each oth er.

Hold Back The River by James Bay

6 people have learned this song

Easy piano arrangement in the key of F at 70 BPM. Difficulty: easy. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.

Learn how to accompany it· the chords and what each hand plays, on Super Simple Chords ↗

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 F 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.
What chords are used in "Hold Back The River"?: This arrangement of "Hold Back The River" uses 8 chords: Bb, Bbmaj9, C, Csus4, Dm, F, F6, Gmin.
How long does it take to learn "Hold Back The River" on piano?: 1–3 short practice sessions for the basics; 2–3 weeks to perform confidently with both hands.
What other songs by James Bay can I play here?: Try "NEED THE SUN TO BREAK", "Let It Go", "Wild Love". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.