Head Above Water

Anointed by the Holy Spirit

Avril Lavigne recently told her fans how she was inspired in writing her new release, “Head Above Water.” She wrote about suffering from Lyme Disease, “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. It was like I tapped into something. It was a very spiritual experience. Lyrics flooded through me from that point on.”

Her worship song will spiritually move you. And it is raising awareness about Lyme Disease through the Avril Lavigne Foundation. A charitable T-Shirt campaign is raising funds for those suffering from the disease but can’t afford treatments.

Head Above Water Video

The music video starts out with the sight and sound of waves lapping on a beach. She is then seen wearing a flowing white dress while holding a lantern. The dress is a reminder of purity (Isaiah 1:18) while the lantern is the Word of God (Psalm 119:105). This may also correlate with the Proverbs 31 Woman, especially verse 8, saying, “…and her lamp does not go out at night.”

She begins singing, “I’ve got to 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.” She is seen walking toward the ocean holding the lamp. Both arms are outstretched looking like the forming of a cross. Her dress of purity is flowing with the wind. She looks like she is forming a cross.

When singing, “My life is what I’m fighting for,” a dove is flying over her. This is symbolizing the wonderful Holy Spirit. And then we see a beautiful cross necklace (Matthew 3:16).

She thing sings, “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.” She is dancing while her dress is floating on the wind, having an audience of One. We see the cross necklace again as she at first has arms out forming a cross. But then she lifts her hands in worship.

Calling on Her Creator

The chorus is calling out to her Creator being a personal prayer. 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 knees / Don’t let me drown / Don’t let me drown.” 

Then she calls on God. “So pull me up from down below / Cuz’ I’m underneath the undertow.” We see steam billowing out of the earth, which may be a reminder of Hell. But continuing singing, “Come dry me off and hold me close / I need you now / I need you most.”

Avril begins running up a hill, returning to the chorus before plunging in the water below. “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.”

What Symbolism Do You See in this Video?

Watch the video above and comment on our GOD TV Facebook page or below on what Christian symbols you see. And let us know how this song speaks to you as God keeps your head above water.