"cruel world" is six minutes and 39 seconds long (6:39). it was written and composed by del rey and blake stranathan, and produced by dan auerbach. the song features "apocalyptic" lyrics, and opens with del rey singing "i shared my body and my mind with you / but that's all over now / did what i had to do / cause its so far past me now." "cruel world," is of what feels like a sad, reverb-drenched daydream. the song sets the stage for the rest of the album, which simmers with a haunted, yearning feeling but never boils over. even the most pop-friendly moments here are steeped in patient, jazz-inflected moodiness. del rey had an idea for the song without using or mentioning the phase. when del rey was asked about the opening track, she explained: ""i went down to the beach and i was thinking about everything, personally, the verse is thoughtful and laid back, but then the chorus falls into this world of chaotic and heavy sub-bass." "the juxtaposition of those two worlds, the peaceful beginning and the chaotic chorus, it summed up my personal circumstances of everything going easily and then everything being f---ed up." "it felt like me."" del rey told clash magazine that the song is her favorite track on ultraviolence.