Big dream girl in a party town In the quarter where the Mardi Gras mask Don't let down Living in a one room dump with an alcoholic mother Over the souvenir shop That she ran for her brother And when the stench of bourbon street Took her breath away And her hopes lay uninspired She would close up shop and take the rest of the day Riding a bus named desire To the end of the line and back again Dreaming away the rut she was in Ready to risk, ready to give Ready to love, ready to live She said "From the back side of the big easy Looking ahead only makes you feel tired But i can dream of an undiluted destiny Riding a bus named desire" And off she goes Bridge: She said "I may not have the talent That the life I want to lead requires But I have a will & I'll learn a skill I can go a long way on desire I can go a long way" One day here, the next day gone Taking the leave she'd been planning on Maybe New York, maybe L.A., maybe Montana She never did say She kept her vision to herself And took off on an American Flyer And she ain't been back but some folks say She's been riding a bus named desire Riding a bus named desire