After a five-year break, Avril Lavigne finally released a new single that happens to be a worship song that preaches the message of God’s saving grace. “Head Above Water” not only introduced the pop-rock singer’s fans to her grim battle with Lyme disease, but also to her newfound faith in God.
Following the release of her chart-topping new single, her music video for the song premiered, depicting the singer walking along a beach in a white dress.
(1/4) It makes my heart so unbelievably full to premiere the #HeadAboveWater music video for you all today, on my birthday. From the very first day I started writing this song, I have been inspired and gathering visuals and imagining what the music video could look like. pic.twitter.com/zwjWmejLHs
— Avril Lavigne (@AvrilLavigne) September 27, 2018
As the video progresses, Lavigne walks towards the water, her dress forming a cross-like shape.
As she sings the chorus, “God keep my head above water / Don’t let me drown / It gets harder / I’ll meet you there at the altar / As I fall down to my knees / Don’t let me drown / Don’t let me drown,” a dove flies overhead, a biblical symbol of hope, peace and the Holy Spirit.
The scene is dark, but Lavigne clasps a lantern in her hands, a cross necklace dangling delicately around her neck as the song progresses.
In a Twitter thread posted at the time of the video’s debut, Lavigne thanked British director Elliott Lester for capturing her “vision” for the production.
(2/4) @elliottlester88, I respect you so much. You are insanely talented. Thank you for working closely with me and hearing my ideas. You not only completely captured my vision, but took this video to an entirely new level, even when it meant going all the way to Iceland.
— Avril Lavigne (@AvrilLavigne) September 27, 2018
“You are my hero,” she wrote.
Lavigne also thanked her co-writers, Travis Clark and Stephan Moccio.
(3/4) You are my hero. I loved every moment of working on this video with you. Thank you to my co-writers @travisrclark , I know God brought you to me to work with me and @stephanmoccio, You slayed on this track. I’m obsessed with the production.
— Avril Lavigne (@AvrilLavigne) September 27, 2018
“I know God brought you to me … ,” she said.
(4/4) Chad Kroeger and @chrisbaseford , thank you for recording my vocals. You all worked together so well. You all took such good care of me and had my back though this experience. I can’t thank you enough.
Watch the music video for Head Above Water here: https://t.co/etXCekB7nY— Avril Lavigne (@AvrilLavigne) September 27, 2018
When the singer released the song last month, she also released a short statement revealing that the song was in fact about her battle with Lyme disease, and a defining experience when she turned to God for help during what she thought were her final moments.
“One night, I thought I was dying, and I had accepted that I was going to die. My mom laid with me in bed and held me. I felt like I was drowning. Under my breath, I prayed, ‘God, please help to keep my head above the water.’ In that moment, the songwriting of this album began,” Lavigne recalled.
On the day of the music video’s release, Lavigne also took to Instagram to introduce her fans to her thought process behind it.
Avril Lavigne Releases First Song in Five Years – And It’s a Worship Song
“It makes my heart so unbelievably full to premiere the #HeadAboveWater music video for you all today, on my birthday,” she wrote in the Sept. 27 post. “From the very first day I started writing this song, I have been inspired and gathering visuals and imagining what the music video could look like.”
“Writing the music that I shared with you today helped me heal,” Lavigne wrote in a separate Instagram post.
“Head Above Water” has been well-received, and has been sitting on the top of the iTunes chart since its release, even hitting the No. 1 spot at one point.