That's a good and thoughtful answer, which respectfully responds to the question, and winds up stating the obvious, diplomatically.

But I disagree as to what everyone would prefer. I'm no Dylan scholar, I'm not sure if I've ever bought a Dylan record, but I grew up in a town ten years behind everywhere, my father was a folkie (more Woody than Bob) and a poet, and there was a running joke with my parents' set about the folkie who gets up and earnestly explains a song, then sings a song that explains itself in practically the same words. I think some people probably enjoyed a break from the heartfelt earnest folkie routine. Dylan was just borrowing the irreverent rock schtick, and I have a pet theory that some people found him interesting. It seems to be turning into a thesis statement, here.

   Just last month there was a Father's Day theme radio show. It was about musical Fathers. I got the idea they'd do some songs about Fatherhood, maybe. Louden Wainwright was on singing a song that explained exactly what it was about (it had to do with being a Father)while he laconically strummed a few chords. For me, it was less a song than an explanation of an idea for a song, that he'd never got around to actually writing. Then he was interviewed and he helpfully explained what it was about. Maybe we're exasperated by different things.

   I think there's a popular notion that mystification is inherently "poetic". It's fun to look for clues. Dylan's topical interests in recent poetic styles are no more poetic, per se, than Barbara Allen, and usually less so, I think. There's never been any real reason to consider him a poet than say, Smokey Robinson. Even I once sat around with Allen Ginsburg, the guy just seems to travel the country sitting around with people, like Johnny Sittingaroundseed. For awhile I suspected he was stalking me. Dylan's "symbolist" antics have entertainment value, are engaging and amusing, and work pretty well expressively sometimes. There's no denying that he clowns. So do some other writers, when they want to.

   It's really interesting to me what this little exchange means to different people.