Bob did a lot of calculating. More so than most I would think.

Blowing in the Wind has very simple structure, the symbolism is pretty standard, it was a matter of putting all that together at the right point in history I think. Bob was a very smart cookie then.

poetic question
poetic question
poetic question
Catchy answer.

I heard Keith Richards relate a story where John Lennon and Paul came to a session to write some songs for the Stones. Mick and Keith watched them and realized they could do it for themselves. There must have been some formula or else they wouldn't have picked it up in less than a day. Mick and Keith turned out to be competent songwriters. They were not as prolific as Dylan or John and Paul. But they have don't better than anyone else.