After love, trust is next on the list of music’s most sung-about topics. Trust plays a crucial role in all types of relationships.
Here are 10 of the most memorable songs about trust (or a lack thereof).
1. “Trust in Me” by Etta James
Etta James’ 1937 classic “Trust in Me” is about more than merely having faith in your partner, it’s a plea for trust. James captures the strife of a relationship in which one partner appears to be more trustful and invested.
2. “The Times They Are A Changin'” by Bob Dylan
Between the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War, the ’60s were clearly a time of social unrest and mistrust. Bob Dylan’s song is a call for change and an affirmation that change is possible.
3. “A Matter of Trust” by Billy Joel
Once you get past the butterflies, there’s the challenge of keeping the relationship alive. Billy Joel tells us what it takes to make a relationship last: Trust in each other.
4. “That’s What Friends Are For” by Dionne Warwick
“That’s What Friends Are For” was out three years before Dionne Warwick recorded this version featuring Gladys Knight, Elton John, and Stevie Wonder. Their version became a smash hit: a worthy success of four friends singing about dependable companionship.
5. “Let Me Leave” by Marc Broussard
Sometimes trusting someone is a bad idea, especially when they haven’t given you one good reason to. If you’re lucky enough to get a heads-up like Marc Broussard’s “Let Me Leave,” then you’d better take it.
6. “Lean On” by Major Lazer & DJ Snake Ft. MO
Named the 2015 song of the year, with more than 1 billion streams on Spotify, “Lean On” is a mashup of EDM and indie vocals from music collective Major Lazer, DJ Snake and Swedish singer MO. Arguably the song of the summer, “Lean On” makes the point that all we need is someone to lean on.
7. “Fortress” by Coleman Hell
Toronto-based artist Coleman Hell‘s “Fortress” features the same folktronica and EDM elements as his other EP. With its catchy, upbeat sound, it’s easy to forget the song is about how hard it is to get someone to trust you enough to let you in.
8. “Take Care” by Drake ft. Rihanna
Whenever trust is broken, there’s always someone else there to pick up the pieces. Drake’s 2012 hit “Take Care” explores the aftermath of trying to take care of someone whose heart has been broken. The song approaches trust from all angles: giving it, gaining it, and losing it.
9. “Trust Nobody” by D4
Backstabbing, faking, lying—there’s a point where the only person you can trust is yourself. D4, the New Zealand rock band from the late ’90s, figures that getting what you need could be a one-man effort.
10. “Trust” by Justin Bieber
Talk about a redemption tour. Justin Bieber’s entire album Purpose is centered around the pop star’s journey to redemption and regaining the trust he lost. “Trust” is about a couple renewing lost trust, but it really could be about any relationship.
