Lana Del Rey’s  powerful intro—“He hit me and it felt like a kiss…Reminded me of when we were kids”—sets the tone of the song ahead.  Del Rey expresses here that abuse feels like love or affection to her, and alludes to the idea that she dealt with abuse growing up as well. When kids experience  abuse  from their parents or other adults, they can grow up to think that this is what love is and how it is expressed. The beginning of “Ultraviolence” shows so much about her perception of love before even getting into the song.

In the chorus, Del Rey creates a really interesting parallel. Where she should be hearing police sirens, signaling that the abuse is physical and she is in danger, she hears violins. These instruments—typically found in an orchestra, not a violent situation— symbolize love and peace, again backing her narrative that abuse is just another way to show love.

In both the introduction and the second verse, the man, known as “Jim,” continuously refers to HER as the venomous one: “He used to call me poison / Like I was poison ivy.” This is so interesting because even though he is physically hurting her, she is being blamed for being “dangerous.” Another lyric says, “Jim taught me that / Loving him was never enough, ”this is another tactic he used to put her down and to keep her believing that she is the toxic one who needs him. She appears to take these insults as a compliment solely because he is the one giving them to her, saying that she “could’ve died right there” because he was beside her—ignoring the fact that he would actually be the reason for her death because of his abuse. 

Continuing to glorify her abuser, Del Rey sings “I would do anything for you, babe / Blessed is this union,” showing the sadness of the song. She is expressing clearly that she does not care about the effects of the abuse on her. She cares about Jim and wants him to continue to love her even though she does not believe he will change. Del Rey’s lyrics give the impression that this woman lacks self-respect, because she will continue to go back to Jim  without even an apology because she loves him. The line, “You're my cult leader / I love you forever,” builds on this because cults brainwash their members into believing their leaders are all-knowing gods or very powerful figures. This reflects everything she is saying about her boyfriend: she does not care what he does to her, she will continue to idolize him.

“Ultraviolence” shows an aspect of abusive relationships that is not typically discussed in pop music: love. While someone from the outside may not understand why a person might stay with their abuser, this song explains that a lot of people see abuse as love and do not want to leave the person that they love, despite getting hurt in the process. 

Lyrics

He used to call me DN
That stood for Deadly Nightshade
Cause I was filled with poison
But blessed with beauty and rage
Jim told me that
He hit me and it felt like a kiss
Jim brought me back
Reminded me of when we were kids

With his Ultraviolence
Ultraviolence
Ultraviolence
Ultraviolence
I can hear sirens, sirens
He hit me and it felt like a kiss
I can hear violins, violins
Give me all of that ultraviolence

He used to call me poison
Like I was poison ivy
I could have died right there
Cause he was right beside me
Jim raised me up
He hurt me but it felt like true love
Jim taught me that
Loving him was never enough

With his Ultraviolence
Ultraviolence
Ultraviolence
Ultraviolence
I can hear sirens, sirens
He hit me and it felt like a kiss
I can hear violins, violins
Give me all of that Ultraviolence

We could go back to New York
Loving you was really hard
We could go back to Woodstock
Where they don't know who we are
Heaven is on Earth
I would do anything for you, babe
Blessed is this union
Crying tears of gold like lemonade

I love you the first time, I love you the last time
Yo soy la princesa, comprende mis white lines
Cause I'm your jazz singer and you're my cult leader
I love you forever, I love you forever

With his Ultraviolence
(lay me down tonight)
Ultraviolence
(in my linen and curls)
Ultraviolence
(lay me down tonight)
Ultraviolence
(Riviera Girls)
I can hear sirens, sirens
He hit me and it felt like a kiss
I can hear violins, violins
Give me all of that Ultraviolence