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Artist: James Bay
Track: Hold Back The River

Lyrics
Tried to keep you close to me
But life got in between
Tried to square not being there
By saying that I should have been

Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes
Hold back the river, so I
Can stop for a minute and see where you hide
Hold back the river, hold back

Once upon a different life
We rode our bikes into the sky
But now we crawl against the tide
Those distant days are flashing by

Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes
Hold back the river, so I
Can stop for a minute and be by your side
Hold back the river, hold back

Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes
Hold back the river, so I
Can stop for a minute and see where you hide
Hold back the river, hold back

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh

Lonely water, lonely water, won't you let us wander?
Let us hold each other
Lonely water, lonely water, won't you let us wander?
Let us hold each other

Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes
Hold back the river, so I
Can stop for a minute and be by your side
Hold back the river, hold back

Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes
Hold back the river, so I
Can stop for a minute and be by your side
Hold back the river, hold

Lonely water, lonely water, won't you let us wander?
Let us hold each other
Lonely water, lonely water, won't you let us wander?
Let us hold each other
Full Lyrics and Meaning
SongMeanings Interpretations
James Bay - Hold Back The River Lyrics
I took the analogy of the river as the passage of time. And as he's recalling instances of time past they can't get back, and relenting on wasted time that he ...
James Bay Lyrics, Songs, Albums And More
A comment was added to Hold Back The River by pwohlford. When hearing the songs and lyrics (see right) to “Hold Back the Rivers” by James Bay there is deep ...
James Bay - Incomplete Lyrics
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James Bay - Silent Love Lyrics
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James Bay - Let It Go Lyrics
... MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC. Lyrics powered by LyricFind. Let It Go song meanings. Add ... More James Bay Lyrics · Hold Back The River Lyrics · Need The Sun To Break ...
James Bay - Right Now Lyrics
Hold me, hold me. Oh, I want to feel you now. Do we, do we. Do we ever need to doubt? We can do no wrong, so we must be long. Overdue a life together
James Bay - Scars Lyrics
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James Bay - Pink Lemonade Lyrics
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James Bay - Need The Sun To Break Lyrics
Back of the room, how come my friends already know you? I feel like a kid, too shy to speak up so I keep it hid. Oh butterflies, you steal my sleep each night
James Bay - Wanderlust Lyrics
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James Bay - If You Ever Want To Be In Love Lyrics
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James Bay - Move Together Lyrics
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SongTell Meaning
Meaning of "Hold Back the River" by James Bay
The song "Hold Back the River" by James Bay is a plea to pause the unrelenting passage of time and reconnect with a loved one who has been lost to the rapi...
Meaning of "Hold Back the River" by James Bay
La canción "Hold Back the River" de James Bay es una súplica para detener el implacable paso del tiempo y reconectar con un ser querido que se ha perdido e...
Meaning of "Hold Back the River" by James Bay
A música "Hold Back the River" de James Bay é um apelo para pausar a passagem implacável do tempo e reconectar com um ente querido que foi perdido na corre...
Meaning of "Hold Back the River" by James Bay
Das Lied "Hold Back the River" von James Bay ist ein Appell, den unerbittlichen Lauf der Zeit anzuhalten und sich mit einem geliebten Menschen zu verbinden...
Meaning of "Hold Back the River" by James Bay
La chanson "Hold Back the River" de James Bay est un appel à suspendre le passage implacable du temps et à renouer avec un être cher perdu dans le courant ...
Meaning of "Hold Back the River" by James Bay
La canzone "Hold Back the River" di James Bay è un appello a fermare l'inarrestabile passaggio del tempo e a riconnettersi con una persona cara che è stata...
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Genius Meanings
James Bay – Hold Back the River
English indie rocker James Bay released this song in 2014—the second single from his debut album Chaos and the Calm. The song had already gone platinum by the time full album came
James Bay – Hold Back the River Samples
See all of “Hold Back the River” by James Bay’s samples, covers, remixes, interpolations and live versions
James Bay – Hold Back the River Covers
See all of “Hold Back the River” by James Bay’s covers
James Bay – Sparks
Sparks, the second track on Bay’s third EP Hold Back The River,is a cautionary tale of a love that’s lost its luster. The passion that once kindled Bays relationship has now burned
BRIT Awards – 2016 Winners & Nominees
Best Producer / Charlie Andrew / Mark Ronson / Mike Crossey / Tom Dalgety / British Breakthrough Act / Catfish & The Bottlemen / James Bay / Jess Glynne / Wolf Alice / Years
Genius Brasil Traduções – James Bay - Hold Back the River (Tradução em Português)
“Hold Back the River” é o segundo single de Chaos and the Calm; quando o álbum completo saiu, a canção já havia conquistado um certificado de platina. A carreira musical de James
GRAMMY Awards – 2016 Nominees
After Alicia Keys unveiled the nominees for the “big four” categories live on CBS, the Grammys unveiled the remaining categories shortly after on their website on December 7th 2015
James Bay – Wait in Line
[Verse 1] / I can't shake this feeling / At the end of each day / That I keep on working hard / But all I do is get paid / Though I keep believing / There's a light up ahead
James Bay – Let It Go
“Let It Go” is about young love that ultimately went wrong. After the couple’s tentatively cute time together, their relationship became forced and Bay ultimately suggests a
James Bay – Scars
This song is about James being apart from someone he loves and the struggle he faces during their separation. Also expressing his vow never to leave that person again. This is a
James Bay – Running
[Verse 1] / When my heart is ready to burst / When the world spins in reverse / I'll keep running / To the place where I belong / [Verse 2] / When you go to turn down the light
James Bay – When We Were on Fire
[Verse 1] / Drifting apart, getting harder to hold you / Days getting dark and the nights are growing cold / Are we burning out? / Swept out of sight, rolling out on an ocean / Let
James Bay – Stealing Cars
[Verse 1] / All we need is a spark / A second chance, a lifeline / Waiting out in the dark / Holding out for a search light / [Chorus] / No, I don't know why seasons change / Or
James Bay – Move Together
In an interview with Radio.com from November 2013, James says that Move Together “is a very personal story about my relationship with somebody very close to me, so it means a lot
Genius Brasil Traduções – James Bay - Wait in Line (Tradução em Português)
[Tradução de "Wait in Line", de James Bay] / [Verso 1] / Eu não consigo me livrar desse sentimento / No final de cada dia / Que eu continuo trabalhando duro / Mas tudo que eu faço
James Bay – Clocks Go Forward
[Verse 1] / Darkness bleeding in, the sun is getting low / No diamonds in the trees, only leaves of gold / And our long days in the heat haze starts to fade / [Chorus] / We can
Oasis – Don't Look Back in Anger
“Don’t Look Back in Anger” was released as the fourth single off of (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?, February 19th 1996. In 2006, it was included in the “Best Of”-compilation
James Bay – Best Fake Smile
Best Fake Smile is the fifth song on James Bay’s critically acclaimed debut album Chaos and the Calm. With an alluring acoustic sound, Bay tells the story of a waitress who is run
Genius Brasil Traduções – James Bay - Sparks (Tradução em Português)
[Tradução de "Sparks", de James Bay] / [Verso 1] / Se eu lhe contasse sobre o meu sonho favorito / Aquele sem você / Você cuspiria fogo em mim? / Ou será que você queimaria para
James Bay – Incomplete
[Verse 1] / I breathe in slow to compose myself / But the bleeding heart I left on the shelf / Started speeding now, beating half to death / 'Cause you're here and you're all mine
James Bay – Craving
This song alludes to a later track on Bay’s album (Clocks Go Forward), in which James feels trapped in his thoughts. After a bad breakup, he hides “under sheets, under heavy covers
James Bay – Need the Sun to Break
[Verse 1] / I'm halfway gone / Sleepless, I'm battle worn / And you're all I want / So bring me the dawn / [Chorus] / I need the sun to break / You've woken up my heart, I'm
James Bay – If You Ever Want To Be In Love
“If You Ever Want To Be In Love” is a song which describes the emotions and struggles of teenagers who meet at school, feel attracted to each other, but are often too shy or
James Bay – Collide
[Verse 1] / I know I'll do it again / I know we're gonna collide / I know we'll call it the end / It's always, always a lie / You wear your heart on your sleeve / I wear my blood
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SongFacts
Hold Back The River by James Bay - Songfacts
Hold Back The River by James Bay song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position
Let It Go by James Bay - Songfacts
Let It Go by James Bay song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position
Chew On My Heart by James Bay - Songfacts
Chew On My Heart by James Bay song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position
Get Out While You Can by James Bay - Songfacts
Get Out While You Can by James Bay song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position
Songfacts - Songs about being away from loved ones
Songfacts category - Songs about being away from loved ones
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Genius Albums
Hold Back the River EP by James Bay
Get all the lyrics to songs on Hold Back the River EP and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Genius Artists
James Bay Albums and Discography
See all of James Bay’s albums on Genius.
SonicHits Artists
Bay, James | Lyrics, Song Meanings & Music Videos
Bay, James Lyrics, Song Meanings & Music Videos: Hold Back The River, Let It Go, If You Ever Want To Be In Love, Craving, Best Fake Smile, When We Were On ...