As a teenage girl in Texas, raised on dust and weeds and cactus
She first saw pictures of the river Seine
From her window late at night, she'd pretend the stars were lights
Of the cafes in the St. Germain des Pres

Chorus 1:
And she longed to see the world, and converse with other girls
As they laughed and talked and walked along the boulevard
To float to Paris and the lights in a taxi late at night
Seems like a leap of faith to make from this old farm
But she made herself a promise that someday she'd celebrate
Her birthday in the St. Germain des Pres

After college she got married, she worked in theatre and had some babies
Her life took on directions of its own
She became a working mother, she lived her life for others
For her husband, for the children and her home

Then one day her grown daughter said, she was off to Europe and
Have you ever thought about it Mom?
She said of course I used to honey, a lot when I was your age
But I hadn't thought about it much until right now
She remembered the promise, that someday she's celebrate
Her birthday in the St. Germain des Pres

She sees how quickly life can pass by, how easily a dream dies
You can't just live your life for someone else
So she boards the plane for Paris, she thinks she'll need a new dress
As she keeps that birthday promise to herself

Oh she thought she'd do it sooner, seems so important to her
But life moves on when you're off making plans
But every now and then it happens, a chance appears for you to grab it
That's why this time she just couldn't let it pass
Cause she made herself a promise that someday she'd celebrate
Her birthday in the St. Germain des Pres

And later take a walk beside the Seine