2019Released
3:40

Did You Know?

Interesting facts and trivia about Head Above Water. By Songfacts®.

"Head above Water" is the first single from Avril Lavigne's sixth studio album, and the first new music she'd released since 2015's "Fly." She hadn't released a studio album since her self-titled effort in 2013. Lavigne wrote a letter to fans explaining that "Head above Water" is about her battle with Lyme disease, which can cause fatigue and joint pain, and is potentially fatal. She had faded from the public spotlight for a while because she was fighting off the disease. In bed and on the couch, she turned to writing music to get her through the situation. "Those were the worst years of my life as I went through both physical and emotional battles," the singer wrote. "I was able to turn that fight into music I'm really proud of."

"Head Above Water," according to Lavigne's letter, was the first song she wrote from her bed while battling her sickness. She felt like she was drowning in a river and found herself praying to God to help her. That's what she's talking about when she sings: 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 knee, don't let me drown "One night I thought I was dying, and I had accepted that I was going to die," Lavigne told ABC News. "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." After coming up with the lyrics, Lavigne met a "beautiful soul" named Travis Clark (from the band We The Kings), who helped her form the rest of the song. The pair took the song to Stephen Moccio to finalize the music. In the same letter addressed to her fans about the song, Lavigne announced that she was funding efforts to help fight Lyme Disease and to assist those already suffering from it.

The video was shot in Iceland and filmed by director Elliott Lester, whose other credits include the movies Blitz and Aftermath. The visual sees an ethereal looking Lavigne, wearing a flowing white gown, roaming on her own across mossy cliffs and a serene black sand beach.

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Song Analysis

Key, BPM (tempo) and time signature of Head Above Water.
FKey
MajorMode
4/4Time Signature
130BPM

Album

The album Head Above Water is released on.

Released By

The record label that has released Head Above Water.
BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
2018 Avril Lavigne Music & Entertainment under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
2018 Avril Lavigne Music & Entertainment under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC

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