Listen to Avril Lavigne's New Song About Her Battle With Lyme Disease

Five years after releasing her last album, Avril Lavigne is back with new music. On Wednesday, the singer shared the first song, “Head Above Water,” off her yet-to-be-released album. She wrote the song while battling Lyme disease and has said that the song was inspired by how she felt during that time.

You can listen to the song below and on other streaming platforms.

Lyrics include:

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

 

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

 

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

In a earlier this month, Lavigne explained that she wrote and recorded songs from her bed and couch as she battled Lyme disease. “Words and lyrics that were so true to my experience came pouring out of me effortlessly,” she wrote. “Truly… by keeping my spirits up, having goals to reach and a purpose to live for, my music helped to heal me and keep me alive.”

[“Head Above Water”] is also the first song I wrote from my bed during one of the scariest moments of my life. 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.

A explains that she fought Lyme disease with antibiotics and herbs for two years and was in bed the majority of the time. To sing “Head Above Water,” she had to work on her endurance.

When you’re in bed for the better part of two years, you lose muscle mass, and your entire body gets weak. I’ve had to work to get my endurance up. ‘Head Above Water’ was the first song that I sang. I was fresh off not singing for two years. I thought my voice would be weak, it ended up being stronger than ever. The break happened to actually be good for my vocal cords.

People with Lyme disease took to Twitter to share their thoughts about the song and what it means to them:

I just listened to your new song @AvrilLavigne. I really like it, and I’m glad you’re ok. I’m 12 years old and have been fighting Lyme Disease for almost 7 years.

— Andreas Lyme Aid Stand (@AidLyme) September 19, 2018

it’s rare to hear ANY major voices speaking about Lyme disease and I’m so grateful @AvrilLavigne is adding her voice and sharing her experience. also shoutouts to @ALLYHILFIGER @YolandaHadid and many others using their platforms to raise awareness for the disease

— Al (@alex_sievert) September 19, 2018

This song is perfect. Your words speaks to my experience with LYME too. I love you! ????????

— Leigh-Ann (@LeighAn22154367) September 19, 2018

Thank you @AvrilLavigne Our voices are the driving force for change with! I wrote a poem for my daughter at age 10 as she suffered with Lyme and co and PANS while doctors told us it was “self-limiting” or psychological! I truly felt like we were swimming against the tide! pic.twitter.com/JawaSTPMFh

— Jessica Bedrinana (@twin2jlb) September 19, 2018