---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't sing. If I could sing or dance, I…"
description: "\"I don't sing. If I could sing or dance, I would have done something really gross in a G-string by now - when I wasn't working and was desperate - and r..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/362/jason-o-mara-16859_career_i-don-t-sing-if-i-could-sing-or-dance-i_1732629.png"
---

#  I don't sing. If I could sing or dance, I would have done…

![“I don't sing. If I could sing or dance, I would have done something really gross in a G-string by now - when I wasn't working and was desperate - and ruined my career.” quote by Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/362/jason-o-mara-16859_career_i-don-t-sing-if-i-could-sing-or-dance-i_1732629.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/362/jason-o-mara-16859_career_i-don-t-sing-if-i-could-sing-or-dance-i_1732629.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/362/jason-o-mara-16859_career_i-don-t-sing-if-i-could-sing-or-dance-i_1732629.png)

> “I don't sing. If I could sing or dance, I would have done something really gross in a G-string by now - when I wasn't working and was desperate - and ruined my career.”

[Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker avoids performing arts out of fear of scandal and career damage, choosing secrecy over expression.

**In simple terms:** Fear of ruin stops artistic expression.

Key Takeaway

Confront fear to pursue authentic art.

Themes

fear career risk artistic expression self-censorship

Mood

anxious hopeful conflicted

Type

personal motivational

When to use this quote

- stage performance
- music videos
- creative workshops
- personal branding

Key Concepts

psychology of shame industry pressure

Questions to Reflect On

- What would you create if fear vanished?
- How does secrecy impact self-worth?

A Different Perspective

Success may require risk and public vulnerability.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [Ruined Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruined-career-1444182/) [Sing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing/) [Sing Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing-dance/) [Sing Sing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing-sing-294422/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [String Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/string-wasn-1444183/)

## Related quotes

> [. . . And some people sing and dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-miller/and-some-people-sing-and-dance/)

[Roger Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-miller/)

> [Ruby Wax has basically ruined my career. You'll see when you watch the programme. I get more intimate with Ruby than I've ever been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-vorderman/ruby-wax-has-basically-ruined-my-career-you-ll-see-when-you-watch-the/)

[Carol Vorderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-vorderman/)

> [Reading 'Youth in Revolt' might have ruined my career because suddenly I wanted to abandon all the emotional truth of something and just go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-thomas/reading-youth-in-revolt-might-have-ruined-my-career-because-suddenly/)

[Rob Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-thomas/)

> [When I act, I act. When I sing, I sing. I don't put one over the other. Entertaining is what I do best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-cara/when-i-act-i-act-when-i-sing-i-sing-i-don-t-put-one-over-the-other/)

[Irene Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-cara/)

> [Nobody wants to hear me sing! I can sing, but nobody wants to be there for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-letscher/nobody-wants-to-hear-me-sing-i-can-sing-but-nobody-wants-to-be-there/)

[Matt Letscher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-letscher/)

> [“Sing, if you can sing, and if not still be musical inside yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/sing-if-you-can-sing-and-if-not-still-be-musical-inside-yourself/)

[Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/)

> [It's not that you want to sing, it's that you have to sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-williams/it-s-not-that-you-want-to-sing-it-s-that-you-have-to-sing/)

[Joe Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-williams/)

> [I just sing. I'm a singer who likes to sing, so if I find something that I do, it's to sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-ramsey/i-just-sing-i-m-a-singer-who-likes-to-sing-so-if-i-find-something/)

[Mason Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-ramsey/)

> [I'm not a big sing-and-dance man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-bhabha/i-m-not-a-big-sing-and-dance-man/)

[Satya Bhabha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-bhabha/)

> [I never thought I'd sing or dance on national television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-krakowski/i-never-thought-i-d-sing-or-dance-on-national-television/)

[Jane Krakowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-krakowski/)

> [I don't want to be part of movies where I just sing and dance and go away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keerthy-suresh/i-don-t-want-to-be-part-of-movies-where-i-just-sing-and-dance-and-go/)

[Keerthy Suresh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keerthy-suresh/)

> [If you're gonna sing, sing loud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-tritt/if-you-re-gonna-sing-sing-loud/)

[Travis Tritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-tritt/)

> [I don't really sing... I just hear notes so I know what it's supposed to sound like, if that makes sense. You ever hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-ricch/i-don-t-really-sing-i-just-hear-notes-so-i-know-what-it-s-supposed-to/)

[Roddy Ricch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-ricch/)

> [Sing, if you can sing, and it not still be musical inside yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/sing-if-you-can-sing-and-it-not-still-be-musical-inside-yourself/)

[Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/)

> [When I sing for myself, I sing in a more free, athletic way. When I face an audience, there is always some fear that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-bocelli/when-i-sing-for-myself-i-sing-in-a-more-free-athletic-way-when-i-face/)

[Andrea Bocelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-bocelli/)

## More by Jason O'Mara

> [A sense of humor saves your life, and being able to make friends wherever you go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/a-sense-of-humor-saves-your-life-and-being-able-to-make-friends/)

[Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/)

> [I definitely read a lot of Marvel stuff when I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-definitely-read-a-lot-of-marvel-stuff-when-i-was-a-kid/)

[Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/)

> [As actors, we have that in common that we go for slightly out-of-the-box or genre stuff. They're great when they work, but they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/as-actors-we-have-that-in-common-that-we-go-for-slightly-out-of-the/)

[Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/)

> [I like to keep my expectations low and my aspirations high in my career and my life. That way I'm pleasantly surprised more often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-like-to-keep-my-expectations-low-and-my-aspirations-high-in-my/)

[Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/)

> [The really good doctors out there are real-life heroes. Playing one on TV is a cheaper alternative and certainly satisfies what is left of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/the-really-good-doctors-out-there-are-real-life-heroes-playing-one-on/)

[Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/)

> [My wife makes the best chocolate chip pancakes, and my son and I are only too happy to stay home and eat them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/my-wife-makes-the-best-chocolate-chip-pancakes-and-my-son-and-i-are/)

[Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/)

> [That's the challenging thing with TV; it's not the action scenes per se, and it's not the location scenes and the heavy dialog scenes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/that-s-the-challenging-thing-with-tv-it-s-not-the-action-scenes-per/)

[Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/)

> [The Australian Outback can be quite unforgiving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/the-australian-outback-can-be-quite-unforgiving/)

[Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/)

> [I've been doing stuff for ABC for a long time, since 2004. I've had several deals with them. Like, 'Life on Mars,' that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-ve-been-doing-stuff-for-abc-for-a-long-time-since-2004-i-ve-had/)

[Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/)

> [I'm attracted to things that are different than the average run-of-the-mill stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-m-attracted-to-things-that-are-different-than-the-average-run-of/)

[Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/)

> [I like to take a shot with things. I like to take risks. I'm attracted to things that are different than the average run-of-the-mill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-like-to-take-a-shot-with-things-i-like-to-take-risks-i-m-attracted/)

[Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/)

> [Every guy needs a pair of beaten up Converse Chuck Taylors. The coolest sneakers in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/every-guy-needs-a-pair-of-beaten-up-converse-chuck-taylors-the/)

[Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/)

> [I called my family, saying, 'Guess what? I got a new show. It's about a cop who travels in time.' And they said, 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-called-my-family-saying-guess-what-i-got-a-new-show-it-s-about-a/)

[Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/)

> [I just watched the entire season of 'Louie' in one flight. What an amazing show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-just-watched-the-entire-season-of-louie-in-one-flight-what-an/)

[Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/)

> [I've spent three hours hanging upside down while fighting off dinosaur attacks. That was a lot of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-ve-spent-three-hours-hanging-upside-down-while-fighting-off/)

[Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/)

[Explore all 38 Jason O'Mara quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/)

## More Career quotes

> [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/)

[Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/)

> [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/)

[Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/)

> [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/)

[Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/)

> [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/)

[Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/)

> [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/)

[Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/)

> [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/)

[Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/)

> [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/)

[Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/)

> [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/)

[John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/)

> [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/)

[Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/)

> [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/)

[Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/)

> [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/)

[Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/)

[Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I don't sing. If I could sing or dance, I would have done something really gross in a G-string by now - when I wasn't working and was desperate - and ruined my career.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jason O'Mara"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-don-t-sing-if-i-could-sing-or-dance-i-would-have-done-something/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Career"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-don-t-sing-if-i-could-sing-or-dance-i-would-have-done-something/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/362/jason-o-mara-16859_career_i-don-t-sing-if-i-could-sing-or-dance-i_1732629.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/362/jason-o-mara-16859_career_i-don-t-sing-if-i-could-sing-or-dance-i_1732629.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/362/jason-o-mara-16859_career_i-don-t-sing-if-i-could-sing-or-dance-i_1732629.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't sing. If I could sing or dance, I would have done something really gross in a G-string by now - when…” — Jason O'Mara",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jason O'Mara",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't sing. If I could...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-don-t-sing-if-i-could-sing-or-dance-i-would-have-done-something/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-don-t-sing-if-i-could-sing-or-dance-i-would-have-done-something/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
