Avril Lavigne may not be a name you've heard in awhile. She was a huge star in the early 2000s, with hits like "Complicated," "I'm With You," "Girlfriend," and, my personal favorite, "Sk8er Boi." She had a unique style, capitalizing on the emo, punk rock glam phase that swept about every middle school in the country.
But, a sudden health issue in 2014 forced her to leave the music scene. After eight months of confusing suffering, Lavigne was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that is the result of a tick bite. She described the experience as incredibly painful. Instead of letting it completely consume her, however, she jotted down her feelings and turned it into powerful lyrics for her brand new song.
Lavigne's "Head Over Water" is not another punk rock ballad. It's a gospel tune that centers on how her faith in God helped her through her ordeal.
She begins by sharing how she relied on her own strength to see her through her pain. But, by the time she reaches the chorus, she realizes she can't be independent.
"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."
Lavigne shared what inspired her to write the powerful lyrics.
“I thought I was dying, and I had accepted that I was going to die," she said. "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 song writing of this album began. It was like I tapped into something. It was a very spiritual experience. Lyrics flooded through me from that point on.”
Avril Lavigne doing gospel. Who knew!
She released the new music video on Thursday - her birthday.