Set through it all

Question

The sentence (from the audio of on old movie released in 1948) is:

"That song never went away. It stayed like songs do sometimes for no reason and set through it all."

Does "set through it all" mean that the melody of the song became permanent or fixed in his mind for a long time?
Does it have another meaning in this context?

GPY · Accepted Answer

"set through it all" doesn't seem right. Could it possibly be "sat through it all"?

Gamboler · Answer

Yes, it could be, GPY.
What would be the meaning of "sat it through it all"?
As you can imagine, the old soundtrack is not very clear and the difference between the sound of set and the sound of sat is subtle.

GPY · Answer

gambolerYes, it could be, GPY.What would be the meaning of "sat it through it all"?As you can imagine, the old soundtrack is not very clear and the difference between the sound of set and the sound of sat is subtle.

If a person "sits through" all of something, it means they remain for the entire duration. It could be a figurative use of this kind of meaning, referring to the song's longevity. It may help if you can post a sound clip. Depending on how much time and effort it takes, I think ideally it would be a good idea to post a sound clip for all these movie soundtrack questions.

Anonymous · Answer

"Set" and "sat" don't seem to fit the sentence.  The phrase, "for no reason and ....", suggests something more like "sense" here:  "That song never went away.  It stayed like songs do sometimes for no reason and sense through it all."

Gamboler · Answer

I'm sorry, Anonymous, but I am almost sure that he says "sat" and no "sense".
As GPY asked for it yesterday, I include a link to the audio clip in order to make it clear.
jumpshare.com/v/JU8uaiO2SItksVDC8fgn (add https:// before)

GPY · Answer

Whatever the missing word, to me the phrasing does not seem right for "It stayed like songs do sometimes for no reason and ?? through it all." To me it sounds more like a new sentence: "Anne sat through it all". Is there a character in the film called Anne that they might be talking about?

Gamboler · Answer

Yes, GPY, Ann is one of the main characters of the movie.
So, I suppose that you are suggesting that the correct sentence is "That song never went away. It stayed like songs do sometimes for no reason. Ann sat through it all".
If this is the case (and likely it is), what does "Ann sat through it all" mean? Maybe that Ann had to put up with it. I want to explain that the song wasn't real, it was only on the speaker's mind, like an obsession.

GPY · Answer

gambolerSo, I suppose that you are suggesting that the correct sentence is "That song never went away. It stayed like songs do sometimes for no reason. Ann sat through it all".

Right.

gambolerIf this is the case (and likely it is), what does "Ann sat through it all" mean?

It means that Ann voluntarily remained present thoughout the duration of "it" (notionally in a seated position, though the literal aspect of this may not be stressed). It may or may not have a negative connotation of enduring something unwelcome ("put up with it", as you say). It seems impossible to say anything much more specific (or even be sure whether "it" refers to the song or to something else) without a full knowledge of the background story.

Gamboler · Answer

Thanks a lot, GPY. A very clear explanation.

Set through it all

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