Hold ing back the (G9)years,
think ing of the (G9)fear I’ve had so long.
tight.
When some bod y hears,
’cause lis ten to the fear that’s gone.
I’ve Stran gled by the wish es of pa ter,
hop ing for the arms years.
of ma ter,
get to meet her (G9)soon er or lat er,
oh.
I’ll keep
(G9)hold ing on.
I’ll keep
(G9)hold ing on.
Hold ing back the (G9)years,
chance for me es (G9)cape from all I’ve known.
tight.
Hold ing back the tears
’cause noth ing here has grown.
that’s gone.
I’ve wast ed all my tears, es of pa ter,
wast ed all those arms years.
of ma ter,
Noth ing had the (G9)soon er or lat er,
oh.
I’ll keep
(G9)hold ing on.
I’ll keep
(G9)hold ing on.
(G9)chance to be good.
Noth ing ev er (G9)could, yeah,
oh.
I’ll keep
(G9)hold ing on.
I’ll keep
(G9)hold ing on.
I’ll keep
(G)hold ing on.
I’ll keep
(G9)hold ing on
so (G9)hold ing on,
hold ing, hold ing, hold ing.
Ah,
la, la, la, la, la, la.
I said
ooh,
yeah.
That’s all I have to (G9)pay.
It’s all I have to (G9)say.
Holding Back The Years by Simply Red
4 people have learned this song
Easy piano arrangement in the key of C at 88 BPM. Difficulty: easy. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.
About “Holding Back The Years”
- What key is "Holding Back The Years" in?
- "Holding Back The Years" by Simply Red is in the key of C with a tempo of 88 BPM. Difficulty: easy.
- Is "Holding Back The Years" 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 "Holding Back The Years" 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 "Holding Back The Years"?
- This arrangement of "Holding Back The Years" uses 4 chords: Dm9, G, G9, Gdom. Only a handful of chords — a great pick for early learners.
- How long does it take to learn "Holding Back The Years" on piano?
- 30–60 minutes for a basic playthrough using color-coded notes; 1–2 weeks of daily 15-min practice to perform smoothly hands-together.
- What other songs by Simply Red can I play here?
- Try "IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW", "Holding Back The Years", "If You Don't Know Me By Now". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
More piano songs by Simply Red
See all Simply Red songs →More songs you might like
SAVE MYSELF
Ed Sheeran
WHERE'VE YOU BEEN
Kathy Mattea
IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW
Simply Red
HAZARD
Richard Marx
BABY, NOW THAT I'VE FOUND YOU
The Foundations
I'LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN
Bacharach & David
MAYBE
The Chantels
Holding Back The Years
Simply Red
TAINTED LOVE
Soft Cell
THANK YOU
Dido
If You Don't Know Me By Now
Simply Red
I'LL MAKE LOVE TO YOU
Boyz II Men