A Matter Of Trust by Billy Joel

Album: The Bridge (1986)

Charted: 52 10

Get the Sheet Music License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

In this song, Joel sings about what it takes to make a relationship last. Once the wave of passion subsides, it becomes a partnership where the couple has to trust each other and be there in times of need. Joel married model Christie Brinkley the year before this was released.
While Joel is known as "The Piano Man," this is the only song that he regularly plays guitar on in concert, giving him a chance to step out from behind the piano. >>
Suggestion credit:
Ken - Louisville, KY
This song plays at the end of the 2015 movie Trainwreck, starring Amy Schumer and Bill Hader. Billy Joel is a plot point in the film, as Hader plays a surgeon who always listens to "Uptown Girl" when he operates.
Christie Brinkley appears in the music video holding the couple's baby daughter, Alexa. In the clip, Joel and his band are performing in a stuffy basement studio in New York City's East Village. Joel opens the windows and draws an enthusiastic crowd - except for one angry woman who yells at him to shut up.
Joel sings of illusory forms of love that are lies of the heart, mind and soul. The sentiment was inspired by Sam Shepard's 1985 off-Broadway play A Lie Of The Mind, which follows the aftermath of an abusive relationship.

Comments: 9

Sofie Sotillo from FloridaCNN uses an instrumental version of this song for their Importance of Trust ad campaign during the 2020 election.
Tommy from MassachusettsI wish there was a music video for "Matter of Trust" without the angry lady.
A great video, but she totally ruined it!
Sergio from BrazilJeff Porcaro on drums?
Roberto from Jacksonville, FlOn his Sirius XM channel, Billy says he tried to sound like Robert Palmer on this song. While I’d listened to A Matter of Trust many times before that, can definitely now hear what he describes.
Timur from RussiaIn the video you can see Mark Rivera playing keyboards although he didn't take part in the recording.
George from Belleville, NjThis is a solid song lyrically and musically.It has drive,it has power,it has meaning.Another winner from Billy Joel's catalog.
Nancy from Merle168@insightbb.com, KyHi April I most certainly agreed with you Love the song and Billy Joel:)
Eric from Great Neck, NyActually he regularly plays the guitar on We Didn't Start The Fire.
April from Nashville, TnI've always loved this song, especially in the beginning when it sounds like he's saying "one two tree, four". Billy Joel is amazing and so is his whole body of work.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

SailAwolnation

"Sail" by AWOLNATION had a remarkably slow climb up the Hot 100. It was the first ever song to spend over a year on the chart before entering the top 20.

OnlineBrad Paisley

The video for Brad Paisley's "Online" is a mini-Seinfeld reunion, featuring Jason Alexander, Estelle Harris, and Patrick Warburton.

Cigarettes And Chocolate MilkRufus Wainwright

"Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk" describes a time in Rufus Wainwright's life when he found himself hungover and pounding chocolate milk to feel better. It didn't work, so he smoked a cigarette, which is when he realized his addictive personality could be a problem.