Thankyou for this fascinating thread about one of the great anthemic songs of my youth. I like the Baez version best but love it in general. I used to use it sometimes as a General Studies 6th Form lesson - trying to get to the bottom of its meaning...
I always suspected I lacked sufficient general knowledge really to understand it.
I would LOVE to know Dylan's analysis but will no doubt never get that - still its sound and imagery will haunt me for ever.
Thanks again!