Popular singer debuts first album in 5 years — and reveals how God inspired her and the album

Pop star Avril Lavigne said that her latest album — the first in five years — has a pretty moving background.

What are the details?

Lavigne, 33, told ET Online that a moment of desperate prayer inspired her new album.

"Head Above Water," the album's title, is taken from a prayer that she uttered aloud.

Lavigne, who was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2014, said that she said the prayer at a particularly dire moment.

Lavigne, who was bedridden at the time, said that her mother crawled into her bed and laid with her.

"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," Lavigne recalled. "I felt like I was drowning. Under my breath, I prayed, 'God, please help me to keep my head above the water.'

"In that moment," she continued, "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."

A portion of the lyrics read:

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

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

 

What else?

Incidentally, it was around December 2014 when Lavigne reportedly asked fans for prayers for her health in a Twitter exchange.

According to Billboard, Lavigne wrote, "I feel bad because I haven’t been able to say anything to the fans to let them no [sic] why I’ve been absent. I’m torn as I’m quite private. ... I’m not feeling well. I’m having some health issues. So please keep me in your prayers."

You can listen to the album's namesake song, "Head Above Water," in its entirety below.