Other arrangements of Holding Back The Years
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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 — Piano Lead Sheet
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"Holding Back The Years" lead sheet with chords, melody, and lyrics. Play the melody while following chord symbols above. Perfect for sing-along or accompaniment. Key of C, 88 BPM.
Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.
Try other practice modes:
About “Holding Back The Years”
- Where are the chord symbols for "Holding Back The Years" 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. "Holding Back The Years" is in C.
- What key is "Holding Back The Years" by Simply Red played in?
- Holding Back The Years is arranged in the key of C on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "Holding Back The Years"?
- The arrangement plays at 88 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "Holding Back The Years" 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 "Holding Back The Years"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "Holding Back The Years"?
- "Holding Back The Years" was originally performed by Simply Red. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "Holding Back The Years"?
- This arrangement uses 4 chords: Dm9, G, G9, Gdom. Only a handful of chords — beginner-friendly.
- 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 in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Does "Holding Back The Years" 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. "Holding Back The Years" is in the key of C at 88 BPM.
- What chords are in "Holding Back The Years"?
- Open the Lead Sheet to see all chord symbols displayed above the melody line. The song is in the key of C, so you'll find chords common to that key. Each chord highlights in real time as the song plays.
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