Head Above Water

Head Above Water
General information
Artist	Avril Lavigne
Release date	September 19, 2018
Recorded	2016-2017
Genre	Pop rock
Length	3:40
Album	Head Above Water
Label	BMG Rights Management
Songwriter(s)	Avril Lavigne, Stephan Moccio, Travis Clark
Producer(s)	Stephan Moccio
Singles chronology
Previous	"Fly"
Current	"Head Above Water"
Next	"Tell Me It's Over"
Head Above Water chronology
"Head Above Water"
"Birdie"
Music video

"Head Above Water" is the first track and the lead single from Avril Lavigne's sixth studio album of the same name. Written by Lavigne with Travis Clark and Stephan Moccio, and produced by the latter, the song was released on September 19, 2018 through BMG Rights Management.

Background

After more than a year from the release of the last single from her fifth studio album, on December 25, 2016, Lavigne announced via her Instagram account that she was working on new music for her upcoming sixth studio album.

On August 18, 2018, Lavigne posted on Instagram that new music is coming in September. At the end of August, the song "Head Above Water" was registered and Lavigne deleted almost all her pictures on Instagram.

On September 1, Lavigne shared a picture of her underwater via her social media. Several people reported that the image was related to the song "Head Above Water". On September 6, Lavigne posted a lengthy letter to her fans on her website detailing her struggle in the past few years and how she overcame it, this also included a release date for "Head Above Water". She wrote on the letter about the song:

I had accepted death and could feel my body shutting down. I felt like I was drowning. Like I was going under water and I just needed to come up for air. Like I was in a river being pulled in a current. Unable to breathe. Praying to God for Him to help me just keep my head above the water. To help me see through the stormy weather.

Lavigne shared a 30-second-snippet of the song on September 13, 2018.

The song was officially released on YouTube and worldwide streaming services on September 19, 2018.

Critical reception

Marina Pedrosa of Billboard wrote that "Head Above Water" "is a powerful, spiritual epiphany detailing the Canadian singer's journey through her battle with Lyme disease." Robin Murray of Clash complimented the track's production and deemed it a "highly personal note". Murray described the song's lyrics and production in detail: "Now, we've never been 100% behind Avril Lavigne's music, but we can't help but be touched by the way she's approached what must be an enormously challenging situation." Writing for Spin, Anna Gaca described the track as a "dramatic piano ballad of resilience". Madeline Roth of MTV Canada named "Head Above Water" an "emotionally charged comeback". Roth was impressed with the fact that song wasn't "just metaphorical", because "it documents a culminating moment in Lavigne’s years-long struggle with Lyme disease". Katherine Gillespie from Paper wrote that "Head Above Water" is a "heavy piano ballad about just that: trying to stay alive."

Lindsay Elizabeth of Faithwire gave the song a positive review, called the song a "powerful worship ballad". Elizabeth further praised that "Lavigne details her relationship with God, and how He saved her when she thought she was at the end of her life." Michael Foust of Christian Headlines described the song as "God-centric song" that even could be labeled “praise and worship", while Maria Sherman of Jezebel considered the song's nature as "dramatic Christian rock vibes" and comparing it to Rachel Platten's 2015 single "Fight Song".

Idolator's Mike Wass, wrote that "Avril opens her heart and delivers the best vocal of her career on a song that is destined to help a lot of people get through tough times." He added "This is everything I wanted from Avril and more. It’s raw and personal — yet still true to her rock-girl-with-pop-hooks roots."

Music video

The music video for "Head Above Water" was directed by Elliott Lester, it was shot between August 22 and 23, 2018. Lavigne announced that the video will be released on September 27, 2018, by teasing a 32-second-snippet.

Live performances

The debut televised live of "Head Above Water" was recorded for the Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 12, 2018. On October 15, she released a new live performance of the song on Honda Stage on her YouTube channel from a partnership between iHeart Radio and Honda. On November 19, Lavigne performed the song on Dancing With The Stars (The Finale) for Alexis & Alan's freestyle. On February 13, 2019, she performed the song on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon. On February 15, 2019, Lavigne performed the song on Good Morning America. On February 18, 2019, Lavigne performed the song on Live with Kelly and Ryan.

Gallery

• Promotional
• Behind the scenes

Videos

Avril Lavigne- Head Above Water (Lyric Video)

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I've gotta keep the calm before the storm
I don’t want less, I don't want more
Must bar the windows and the doors
To keep me safe, to keep me warm

[Verse 2]
Yeah, my life is what I'm fighting for
Can’t part the sea, can't reach the shore
And my voice becomes the driving force
I won't let this pull me overboard

[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, drown, drown
Don't let me, don't let me, don’t let me drown

[Verse 3]
So pull me up from down below
’Cause I'm underneath the undertow
Come dry me off and hold me close
I need you now, I need you most

[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, drown, drown
Don't let me, don’t let me, don't let me drown
Don't let me drown, drown, drown
Don't let me, don't let me, don't let me drown (keep my head above water, above water)

[Bridge]
And I can't see in the stormy weather
I can't seem to keep it all together
And I, I can't swim the ocean like this forever
And I can't breathe

[Refrain]
God, keep my head above water
I lose my breath at the bottom
Come rescue me, I'll be waiting
I'm too young to fall asleep

[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

[Outro]
Don't let me drown (don't let me, don't let me, don't let me drown)
Don't let me drown (don't let me, don't let me, don't let me drown)
Don't let me drown (don't let me, don't let me, don't let me drown)
Keep my head above water, above water