The imagery used in Stranded Lullaby takes the audience through a moment of Simon's self-reflection and resignation. It is hard not to recognize the bittersweet nature of his words as he sings and hopes the girl is listening. He asks, "I'd like to know why you are all alone while I'm lost at sea / Maybe we'll be there when you want" (Stranded 6-7). The girl's voice echoes softly and tauntingly to Simon a few times in the last two choruses, though this is not her intention, as the voice is not coming directly from her. After all this time, the girl has decided to move on and live happily in paradise, while Simon continues to long for her and imagine a better ending. After this echo, he describes himself as "unmoored" in the third verse; insecure, confused, or out of touch with reality. Simon does not know how to fix what is broken, as he can do nothing but end his journey.
Like the final song of Hawaii: Part II, Dream Sweet in Sea Major is a seven-minute reprise of the major events and details from the previous ten songs.
The first line of Dream Sweet in Sea Major repeats the first song, Introduction to the Snow, and brings back Simon as the omniscient narrator. This first verse, while similar to the first song in composition, changes some lyrics to reflect what Simon experienced. "For merely dreaming we were snow [...] / And only she can make it right / So things are different tonight" (dsism 2-4).
Shortly thereafter, in the first bridge, Space Station Level 7 is repeated in a French verse, repeating the first two lines and then adding new lines of its own: "Combler la lacune / Voler face à la lune / Vois comme nous évoluons" ("Fill the gap / Fly against the moon / See how we evolve" English translation, dsism 13-14), bringing the original themes of Space Station Level 7 within Simon's reach, not just Stella's. In the second bridge, Black Rainbows briefly reappears in Simon's voice. "To know we are beyond a bow / And lo, the hues arrange to show it's perfectly clear" (dsism 22-23).
The remaining songs, Isle Unto Thyself, White Ball, The Mind Electric, Labyrinth, Time Machine, and Stranded Lullaby, are not left out of the reprise. Rather, they are included via musical composition, such as the droning note at the end of Dream Sweet in Sea Major, which mirrors the droning lyrics at the end of Time Machine, or indirectly via vocal composition, such as the similar vocal style in Isle Unto Thyself, which is reused in the second bridge of Dream Sweet in Sea Major.
As an independent reprise of the entire album and its contents, it also represents a partial success of Simon's ambitions. Simon does not end up with Stella, as he did in Stranded Lullaby, but he does end Dream Sweet in Sea Major with a clear conclusion of a happy death: "The part is wholly ending / A line in any final song / So long, so far / We will be atoning / At last eternal through the past" (dsism 32-36).The last line of Dream Sweet in Sea Major, "Invisible to some until it's time" (dsism 41), has often represented the concept of Hawaii: Part II to its active audience.
Despite having over a million followers on Spotify, there is limited online discussion and input from Joe Hawley, Ross Federman, and Bora Karaca on the album's themes. It's something you'll discover eventually, if you are willing to find it. This album is entertaining on its surface level, and deep analysis is not necessary to develop its own story.
You have now reached the end.
I hope you have enjoyed my explanations.
Spread the word, and do not fall in love with any girls in Hawaii. ;)
