And when I say folksinger, I mean just that. This genius appeared at the City Hall last Thursday, the man who is said by his fans to "have the message"; the man who claims, paradoxically, "I have never tried to communicate to people. There isn't any point, it is impossible to make anyone understand what I think."

I had a long conversation with Dylan, during which I was never sure who was doing the interviewing, me, Dylan or Alan Price of the Animals.

Communication

ELLIS: OK., it's impossible for most people to understand but some may, and you must communicate to find out which they are.

DYLAN: Do you think we have an adequate means of communication?

ELLIS: No, but it's the best we have and we must use it.

DYLAN: What would we do if we couldn't communicate?

ELLIS: Oh, I'm sure ... who's doing the interview, me or you?

PRICE: Well, you haven't asked any questions yet.

And so it went on, all three interviewing each other, till Dylan at last came out with something telling, "I have my friend, I know who they are, I don't need any more. I don't see what you have to gain spiritually from talking to someone for a few minutes."

Insight

Well, I didn't talk for just a few minutes, but rather for over half an hour. I didn't gain spiritually, but I think I caught an insight into the man who wrote

        "How many times must the cannon balls fly, before too many people
            have died?
        The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind, the answer is blowin'
            in the wind."

Terry Ellis