Hold ing back (G13)the years,
think ing of (G7)the fear I’ve had so long;
when some bo (G13)dy hears,
’cos lis ten to (G7)the fear that’s gone.
Stran gled by (G13)the wish es of pa ter,
hop ing for (G7)the arms of ma ter;
get to meet (G13)her soon er or la ter,
oh.
Hold ing back (G13)the years,
chance for me (G7)to escape from all I’ve known.
Hold ing back (G13)the tears,
’cos no thing here (G7)has grown.
Stran gled by (G13)the wish es of pa ter,
hop ing for (G7)the arms of ma ter;
get to meet (G13)her soon er or la ter,
oh.
I’ve was ted all (G13)my tears,
was ted all (G7)those years.
No thing had (G13)the chance to be good;
no thing ev (G7)er could, yeah,
oh.
I’ll keep
hold ing on,
I’ll keep
hold ing on,
I’ll keep
hold ing on,
I’ll keep
(G7)hold ing on,
hold ing so (Dm9)tight.
Well I’ve hold ing on,
hold ing, hold ing, hold ing, hey.
That’s all I have (G13)to day,
it’s all I have (G7)to say.
That’s all I have (G13)to day;
it’s all I have (G7)to say, yeah,
oh.
Holding Back The Years — Piano Accompaniment Track
Free piano accompaniment for "Holding Back The Years" by Simply Red. Sing along or play your instrument over the backing piano. Toggle the vocal melody on/off, change key to fit your voice, adjust tempo. Key of C, 90 BPM.
Tip: Press play and sing the melody on top of the piano. If the original key (C) sits too high or low for your voice, use the transpose control to shift the accompaniment into a comfortable range — the backing moves with you. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the vocal melody in.
Try other practice modes:
About “Holding Back The Years”
- What key is the piano accompaniment for "Holding Back The Years" by Simply Red in?
- The backing track is in C at 90 BPM. If that doesn't sit in your vocal range, use the live transpose control to shift up or down semitones — the accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.
- Can I sing over "Holding Back The Years" with this accompaniment?
- Yes — that's exactly what it's built for. The vocal melody is muted by default so you can sing freely. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the melody back in at a lower volume.
- Is this a karaoke version of "Holding Back The Years"?
- Effectively yes — it's the piano-only backing for "Holding Back The Years", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
- Can I use "Holding Back The Years" as a backing track for my instrument?
- Absolutely. Singers, guitarists, violinists, wind players, and instrumental practice in general all work — the piano holds the harmony so you can carry the melody on whatever instrument you play.
- Can I download the accompaniment for "Holding Back The Years"?
- Yes — registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
- Who wrote "Holding Back The Years"?
- "Holding Back The Years" was originally performed by Simply Red. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
- What other backing tracks by Simply Red are available?
- Other accompaniments by Simply Red: "If You Don't Know Me By Now", "If You Don't Know Me By Now". Same toggle-the-melody, change-the-key setup.
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