About The Song
“A Matter of Trust” is a song by Billy Joel from his 1986 album The Bridge. It was released as the album’s second single and became a top ten hit. The song gained major traction in the Soviet Union as part of a state-sponsored television promotion of Joel’s songs in preparation for his 1987 USSR concerts, recorded on Kontsert.
The song’s music video, directed by Russell Mulcahy and conceived and produced by Paul Flattery, features Joel and his band performing in the basement of a building in St. Mark’s Place in New York City’s East Village, and also features shots of various people in the city who eventually gather ’round the building’s windows to see Joel perform. Most appear to be enjoying the performance except one woman on a fire escape who yells at them to “shut up!” However, she is ignored, and even members of the NYPD do not mind. Joel’s then-wife Christie Brinkley appears in the video holding their baby daughter Alexa. The music video also includes two quick cuts of both Ringo Starr (1:38) and Paul McCartney (2:01) watching from the street . The song differs from most Joel songs in that it is based on electric guitar rather than piano, which gives it a rock edge, compared to the soft-rock balladry with which he is more often associated. It is the only Joel music video that features him on guitar—a factor he cited when saying it was his favorite of all his videos.
Billboard called it “refreshingly untidy rock” with “elegant song structure”. Cash Box said that this “generic sounding pop tune may not be one of Joel’s best, but with his gut level vocal and the heavy rock guitar backing featured within it, the tune is given a cutting edge.”
During the 2020 presidential cycle and COVID-19 pandemic, CNN broadcast commercials promoting the importance of trust and which featured “A Matter of Trust” as background music. CNN states in an email: “This version’s stripped-down instrumentals set against the black and white images create space to pause and reflect on this year’s chaotic news cycles, and offer hope for how we can grow better together from these unprecedented times.”
Video
Lyrics
One, two, a-one, two, three, four
Some love is just a lie of the heart
The cold remains of what began with a passionate start
And they may not want it to end
But it will it’s just a question of when
I’ve lived long enough to have learned
The closer you get to the fire, the more you get burned
But that won’t happen to us
‘Cause it’s always been a matter of trust
Now I know you’re an emotional girl
It took a lot for you to not lose your faith in this world
Well, I can’t offer you proof
But you’re gonna face a moment of truth
It’s hard when you’re always afraid
You just recover when another belief is betrayed
So break my heart if you must
It’s a matter of trust
You can’t go the distance
With too much resistance
I know you have doubts
But for God’s sake, don’t shut me out
This time you’ve got nothing to lose
You can take it, you can leave it, whatever you choose
I won’t hold back anything
And I’ll walk a way a fool or a king
Some love is just a lie of the mind
It’s make-believe until it’s only a matter of time
And some might have learned to adjust
But then it never was a matter of trust
I’m sure you’re aware, love
We’ve both had our share of
Believing too long
When the whole situation was wrong
Some love is just a lie of the soul
A constant battle for the ultimate state of control
After you’ve heard lie upon lie
There can hardly be a question of why
Some love is just a lie of the heart
The cold remains of what began with a passionate start
But that can’t happen to us
‘Cause it’s always been a matter of trust
It’s a matter of trust
Oh, it’s been a matter of trust
It’s a matter of trust
‘Cause it’s always been a matter of trust