she made herself a promise

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

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