“Plebes” refer to the Plebian class of Roman society. They were the workers. Not to be confused with the “Plebs” of Annapolis’ Naval Academy. Then add to the stew Dave Loggins’ classic hit “Please Come to Boston” and it’s all “Welcome to Cryptic City.” 

Put this one in the category of lyrics that write themselves. I seem to recall the first line coming to me on a peaceful morning in my quiet Portland neighborhood and one line just tumbled into place after the other with no purposeful input on my part. 

As I try to shake this song upside down for meaning, I imagine a young person leaving his suburban security for the uncertainty and opportunity of the big city (Boston?). He’s equipped with the standard fear of death the young often burden themselves along with and naive notions of class, power and gambling at life to win. It’s springtime. Life is new and promising. Seems to be a self pep talk maybe? 

But I only wrote the song. Your guess is as good as mine. Possibly better. 

In taping the video for this song, I got in a small argument with Tim Kohl, the technical director, about the pronunciation and spelling of “Plebes.” He insisted it was pronounced with a short “e” and no second “e.” I referred him the HBO series, “Rome,” where the closed caption spells it my way, and the actors pronounce it with a long “e.” Argument settled.


“Plebes Come to Boston” 
(Kent) 
Quiet neighborhood, Day is dawning/ But loud and clear I hear the rumble roar/ of a nearby highway/ A highway/ if things go my way/ I'll be taking someday/ far away 

Kings come and go/ Queens rise and fall/ Senators/ stab emperors/  Plebs come to Boston in the springtime… 

Quiet neighborhood, weekend chorus/ Mournful mighty mowers thwart the grass roots/ Weather makes me make hay/ A sunny day/ How soon I’ll lay/ under some lawn/ far away? 

Aces are high/ Jokers are wild/ Holy Roman/ Empire falls slow, man/  Plebs come to Boston in the springtime…… 

I'm an immodest man/ of modest means/ Modest means that justify the ends/  Seems I can't be touched unless/ the kindness of strangers extends 

Kings come and go/ Queens rise and fall/ Senators/ stab emperors/ 
Aces are high/ Jokers are wild/ Holy Roman/ Empire falls slow, man/  Plebs come to Boston in the springtime…

credits
from Western Man from Back East, released August 27, 2017 
Produced, mixed and mastered by Pat Kearns 
3-string bass & vocals: Question Beggar 
Wavedrum by Question Beggar. 
Percussion loops by Pat Kearns

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Question Beggar is a one-man-band artist from the darkness on the edge of Fort Worth. Playing only a 3-string bass of considerable mutation, Question Beggar calls his sound Heavy Skiffle. Don't be fooled by all the sound you hear: excepting the percussion, you're hearing one bass with no overdubs. Putting aside the unique instrumentation, the songs are quite decent and shot through with a wicked wit entirely his own. 
Eschewing venues for now, Question Beggar performs live on YouTube and has releases video singles extensively.

"Plebes Come to Boston"

Question Beggar

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