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Cruel, also known as Cruel Rule, is an unreleased song by Marina Diamandis, intended for her fourth studio album, LOVE + FEAR.

The song was written by Marina but any co-writers are unknown, and James Flannigan is speculated to have produced the track.

Background[]

The song is from 2016, being written after FROOT,[1] possibly around the same time as the demo of Emotional Machine. It was likely recorded in late 2016.[2] It's not known how much of an idea Marina had for an album at this point, as she stated in interviews that she felt like recoiling at the thought of releasing something publicly.[3]

Due to the lack of a bridge (and final chorus), this is more likely to be a demo than a final version. It is possible that Marina was given an instrumental to sing over at home, like she did in Like the Other Girls.

Speculation[]

Only one of the LOVE + FEAR outtakes has been registered (If It's Worth It), and although registration only shows the writers of the song, which can be the producer, that means we don't know who produced the track. Noah Breakfast was thought to have produced the track, as the leaked file had his name in the title.[4][unreliable source]

However, in February 2017, the time of the second version of Cruel, Marina was with James Flannigan[5] and Lizzo.[6] Though this track is currently unknown, it thematically fits the caption of the polaroid, and Lizzo's lyrics about being a self-empowered woman. This could also explain the missing bridge, if Lizzo was intending to sing the bridge and duet on the final chorus.

Instagram (04-Feb-2017) 01

Trivia[]

Connections[]

  • The theme of "a million dollars" (million dollar jewel) links the song to:
    • Forget: “If I'll ever get to Heaven, when a million dollars gets you there."
    • Gold: “I don't care that everybody knows, I'm a million dollars in the hole."
    • Venus Fly Trap: “I earned it all myself, and I'm a millionairess."

Official Versions[]

Version Released on Date Length
[7] Final N/A - Unreleased Leaked: 10 Sept 2019 3:01
Demos
[8] Demo N/A - Demo Leaked: 18 Dec 2020 3:03

Lyrics[]

[Verse 1]
Rolling hard with my best friend
I love myself tonight
Blazing, clear-cut confidence
We’ve only got one life

[Pre-Chorus]
I’m livin’, I’m livin’
I’m livin’ by nobodies’ rules
So don’t you take me for a fool
‘Cause I’m a million dollar jewel
I live my life fearlessly
So come and roll with me, roll with me

[Chorus]
I’m ready for the revolution
And you don’t get to tell me who to be, to be
I’m an independent woman
And I’m the one who decides that I’m free, I’m free
Of cruel rule
Cruel rule

[Verse 2]
I can look you dead in the eye
And hope to God you die
I don’t wanna see my friends
Go down ‘cause of your lies

[Pre-Chorus]
I’m livin’, I’m livin’
I’m livin’ by nobodies’ rules
So don’t you take me for a fool
‘Cause I’m a million dollar jewel
I live my life fearlessly
So come and roll with me, roll with me

[Chorus]
I’m ready for the revolution
And you don’t get to tell me who to be, to be
I’m an independent woman
And I’m the one who decides that I’m free, I’m free
Of cruel rule
Cruel rule

[Verse 1]
Going hard with my best friend
We're out to own the night
Blazing, clear-cut confidence
We’ve only got one life

[Pre-Chorus]
We're livin’, we're livin’
We're livin’ by nobodies’ rules
So don’t you take us all for fools
Shining like million dollar jewels
We live our life fearlessly
So come and roll with me, roll with me

[Chorus]
I'm not going to live forever
So I won't let nobody in my way, my way
I gotta put myself together
'Cause I gotta be ready for the day, the day
Of cruel rule
Cruel rule

[Verse 2]
I can look you dead in the eye
And hope to God you die
I don’t wanna see my friends
Go down ‘cause of your lies

[Pre-Chorus]
We're livin’, we're livin’
We're livin’ by nobodies’ rules
So don’t you take us all for fools
Shining like million dollar jewels
Living our life fearlessly
So come and roll with me, roll with me

[Chorus]
I’m ready for the revolution
And you don’t get to tell me who to be, to be
I’m an independent woman
And I’m the one who decides that I’m free, I’m free
Of cruel rule
Cruel rule

References[]

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