A Matter Of Trust

Billy Joel

One, two
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
But I can't offer you proof
But you're going to 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 away 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
It's always been a matter of trust
It's a matter of trust
'Cause it's always been a matter of trust


Lyrics submitted by kevin

A Matter of Trust Lyrics as written by Billy Joel

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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A Matter Of Trust song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • +5
    General Comment
    I like all the reviews made before, but I miss one small thing, that the first time I heard this song in 1986 really cracked me up and got all my attention and put me heels over head when I came to know the Billy Joel (much) expected new work: The beginning of the song A MATTER OF TRUST: "A... one, a... two, a... one two three four...." I was totally raptured within only five seconds. I was totally won... again. That's mastery. Only the biggest ones can do this. The rest of the song I was so in shock, that even today can't go over that euphorical -whatever- sensation, that those five words in his voice do to me.
    le fer et le feuon March 27, 2008   Link
  • +3
    General Comment
    A guy is proposing to his girl. He is persuading her to go for it in the face of her fear of getting burned. He argues that the trust they have in each other should be reason enough to "go the distance". One can infer that "the distance" is sex, but I think it is marriage. Trust will outlast all of the other kinds of love he mentions and therefore will give them a strong foundation for a successful marriage.
    wild_thaingon March 21, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    Billy is talking about the different kind of loves he's seen in here. There are the ones with the fiery beginnings that burn out and such. But he's telling this woman that those aren't him and her, he's saying for them they just can't seem to trust eachother because they've both been hurt before. Especially the girl.
    Good OL MCon June 28, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    kay well pretty much hes convincing her to take a risk and trust him even though shes been hurt before and cant trust people anymore. Im like that too you know I cant trust people and it makes it near impossible to have a relationship with someone, nevermind a healthy one. Its really hard. "the closer you get to the fire the more you get burned"...keep in mind that the further away you get the more you get cold
    nat leehunni4667on February 09, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I was raised by music. billy joel mostly. and this song has gotten my through anything. I can apply it to any relationship in my life.
    nat leehunni4667on May 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    You can't love someone you can't trust, and this is such a great song btw
    kfe2on February 04, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    He's trying to make her see that they've both been there and done that and can (or have) learned from the relationships of the past. If they are open and trust each other it can work this time. She's obviously been hurt a lot and he wants to reassure her. My fave lines: "I won't hold back anything/And I'll walk away a fool or a king."
    neurotic.housewifeon May 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    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 Because it's always been a matter of trust Love to know what you're up to .... What? You know what ...
    sillybunnyon August 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    a true song about being in love many times, and finally finding the "right one"
    bunnyhonnie7on May 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    this is one of billy joel's best! i love this song and the above poster said i can relate it to almost any relationship in my life. i felt like he was talking to me with this verse: I know you're an emotional girl It took a lot for you to not lose your faith in this world 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
    jasssson December 10, 2009   Link

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