--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oh yeah, I would have been a coal miner…" description: "\"Oh yeah, I would have been a coal miner, I would think, if I hadn't had tuberculosis when I was 12.\" — Tom Jones" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/tom-jones-11270_asthma_oh-yeah-i-would-have-been-a-coal-miner-i_673508.png" --- # Oh yeah, I would have been a coal miner, I would think, if… ![“Oh yeah, I would have been a coal miner, I would think, if I hadn't had tuberculosis when I was 12.” quote by Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/tom-jones-11270_asthma_oh-yeah-i-would-have-been-a-coal-miner-i_673508.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/tom-jones-11270_asthma_oh-yeah-i-would-have-been-a-coal-miner-i_673508.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/tom-jones-11270_asthma_oh-yeah-i-would-have-been-a-coal-miner-i_673508.png) > “Oh yeah, I would have been a coal miner, I would think, if I hadn't had tuberculosis when I was 12.” [Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects that a serious illness changed his career path from mining to music. **In simple terms:** Illness altered his life direction. Key Takeaway Recognize how setbacks can redirect you. Themes career health choice Mood reflective thoughtful Type personal narrative When to use this quote - personal crisis - career planning - health challenges - alternative paths Key Concepts determinism resilience Questions to Reflect On - How might your life differ without that illness? - What new opportunities emerged from adversity? A Different Perspective Illness may limit options, not guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asthma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asthma/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Coal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coal/) [Coal Miner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coal-miner-480717/) [Hadn Tuberculosis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hadn-tuberculosis-5342100/) [Miner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miner/) [Miner Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miner-think-3461973/) [Oh yeah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oh-yeah/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Tuberculosis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tuberculosis/) [Tuberculosis 12](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tuberculosis-12-5342101/) [Yeah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yeah/) ## Related quotes > [I come from a coal-mining, working-class background. My father was a coal miner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/i-come-from-a-coal-mining-working-class-background-my-father-was-a/) [Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) > [My great-grandfather was a coal miner, who worked in Pennsylvania mines when carts were pulled by mules and mines were lit by candles. Mining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-murphy/my-great-grandfather-was-a-coal-miner-who-worked-in-pennsylvania/) [Tim Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-murphy/) > [I've got the body of a model and the face of a coal miner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-flemyng/i-ve-got-the-body-of-a-model-and-the-face-of-a-coal-miner/) [Jason Flemyng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-flemyng/) > [“If there is one man to whom I do feel myself inferior, it is a coal-miner.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/if-there-is-one-man-to-whom-i-do-feel-myself-inferior-it-is-a-coal/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [I came from a very, very small valley in the middle of South Wales. I grew up there with my father, who's a coal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/i-came-from-a-very-very-small-valley-in-the-middle-of-south-wales-i/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [I know I'm not a coal miner, but I do long hours and I never complain, and there is nowhere else I'd rather be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-know-i-m-not-a-coal-miner-but-i-do-long-hours-and-i-never-complain/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [Who deserves more credit than the wife of a coal miner? Mother was one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-travis/who-deserves-more-credit-than-the-wife-of-a-coal-miner-mother-was-one/) [Merle Travis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-travis/) > [My dad was a coal miner in County Durham.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-hill/my-dad-was-a-coal-miner-in-county-durham/) [Fiona Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-hill/) > [Damnit Derek, I'm a coal miner, not a professional film or television actor. -Larry Zoolander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoolander/damnit-derek-i-m-a-coal-miner-not-a-professional-film-or-television/) [Zoolander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoolander/) > [“I was under the impression that Sam expected me to be someone, and I really wanted to be that person because I wasn’t happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-hart/i-was-under-the-impression-that-sam-expected-me-to-be-someone-and-i/) [S. Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-hart/) > [I have a humble background. My dad was a coal miner. My mum worked a receptionist. I was one of the first people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-bradbrook/i-have-a-humble-background-my-dad-was-a-coal-miner-my-mum-worked-a/) [Gail Bradbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-bradbrook/) > [My grandfather, who brought me up, was a coal miner. I visited the mines with him. I remember it vividly. It was horrible. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-w-s-anderson/my-grandfather-who-brought-me-up-was-a-coal-miner-i-visited-the-mines/) [Paul W. S. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-w-s-anderson/) > [Coal is not dear for the coal-miner who can use it there and then, nor is khadi dear for the villager who manufactures his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/coal-is-not-dear-for-the-coal-miner-who-can-use-it-there-and-then-nor/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I am the granddaughter of a Welsh coal miner who was determined that his kids get out of the mines. My dad got his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-romney/i-am-the-granddaughter-of-a-welsh-coal-miner-who-was-determined-that/) [Ann Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-romney/) > [See that little girl? I wanted to marry her mother, but she ran off with a coal miner," "A coal miner? Why did she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/see-that-little-girl-i-wanted-to-marry-her-mother-but-she-ran-off/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) ## More by Tom Jones > [Plant a radish, get a radish, never any doubt. That's why I love vegetables, you know what they're about!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/plant-a-radish-get-a-radish-never-any-doubt-that-s-why-i-love/) [Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) > [It's not unusual to be loved by anyone, it's not unusual to have fun with anyone. But when I see you hanging about with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/it-s-not-unusual-to-be-loved-by-anyone-it-s-not-unusual-to-have-fun/) [Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) > [When I started recording, I thought I'd be able to do all kinds of records: jazz, country, dance - and I've always wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/when-i-started-recording-i-thought-i-d-be-able-to-do-all-kinds-of/) [Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) > [The Musto Skiff combines the thrill of skiff performance with smooth control and well... it just blows your pants off!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/the-musto-skiff-combines-the-thrill-of-skiff-performance-with-smooth/) [Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) > [First of all, I love singing. I mean, I get out of bed and I sing. I can't help it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/first-of-all-i-love-singing-i-mean-i-get-out-of-bed-and-i-sing-i-can/) [Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) > [Pussy cat, pussy cat, I love you, yes I do. You and your pussy cat nose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/pussy-cat-pussy-cat-i-love-you-yes-i-do-you-and-your-pussy-cat-nose/) [Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) > [I got married when I was 16 so I had to do shift-work to make ends meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/i-got-married-when-i-was-16-so-i-had-to-do-shift-work-to-make-ends/) [Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) > [I don't think you can sing about certain things when you're a teen-ager or in your early 20s, because you haven't lived long enough.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/i-don-t-think-you-can-sing-about-certain-things-when-you-re-a-teen/) [Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) > [I've always worn jewellery but for a time it went out of fashion. Like grungy and punk bands didn't wear jewellery because it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/i-ve-always-worn-jewellery-but-for-a-time-it-went-out-of-fashion-like/) [Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) > [“There is a curious paradox that no one can explain. Who understands the secret of the reaping of the grain? Who understands why Spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/there-is-a-curious-paradox-that-no-one-can-explain-who-understands/) [Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) > [I come from a coal-mining, working-class background. My father was a coal miner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/i-come-from-a-coal-mining-working-class-background-my-father-was-a/) [Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) > [When I was young, I was interested more in (singing the songs). ... I can't say I'm enjoying it more now than I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/when-i-was-young-i-was-interested-more-in-singing-the-songs-i-can-t/) [Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) > [I think teen-age love is a great thing. There's nothing quite like it and never will be for the rest of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/i-think-teen-age-love-is-a-great-thing-there-s-nothing-quite-like-it/) [Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) > [I realize that singing is saving my life, once I started again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/i-realize-that-singing-is-saving-my-life-once-i-started-again/) [Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) > [Try to remember the kind of September When life was slow and oh so mellow. Try to remember the kind of September When grass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/try-to-remember-the-kind-of-september-when-life-was-slow-and-oh-so/) [Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) [Explore all 60 Tom Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) ## More Asthma quotes > [I have no sex appeal, which kills me. The only way I can ever hear heavy breathing from my husband's side of the bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-have-no-sex-appeal-which-kills-me-the-only-way-i-can-ever-hear/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [As a child I had terrible asthma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/as-a-child-i-had-terrible-asthma/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [I've always had bronchitis. I've been administered the Sacrament of Death three times for it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/i-ve-always-had-bronchitis-i-ve-been-administered-the-sacrament-of/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [Ever since I was little, I've had an issue with breathing and my stamina, especially growing up as a dancer. It was thought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-michelle/ever-since-i-was-little-i-ve-had-an-issue-with-breathing-and-my/) [Ava Michelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-michelle/) > [I had terrible ear problems and asthma and allergies. I spent quite a bit of time in hospital up to the age of eight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-minchin/i-had-terrible-ear-problems-and-asthma-and-allergies-i-spent-quite-a/) [Tim Minchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-minchin/) > [It's just so bizarre how in this world if you have asthma, you take asthma medication. If you have diabetes, you take diabetes medication.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lawrence/it-s-just-so-bizarre-how-in-this-world-if-you-have-asthma-you-take/) [Jennifer Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lawrence/) > [I'm scared of him," said Piggy, "and that's why I know him. If you're scared of someone you hate him but you can't stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/i-m-scared-of-him-said-piggy-and-that-s-why-i-know-him-if-you-re/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [I discovered the wife's got asthma. Thank God - I thought she was hissing at me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-dawson/i-discovered-the-wife-s-got-asthma-thank-god-i-thought-she-was/) [Les Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-dawson/) > [My eyes were bad. I stuttered. I had hepatitis, double pneumonia, even anemia. When I was 7, my family took me on a trip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mercado/my-eyes-were-bad-i-stuttered-i-had-hepatitis-double-pneumonia-even/) [Walter Mercado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mercado/) > [Mr. Vice President, the most fiscally conservative thing this government has ever done, is to invest massively in the green part of the recovery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/mr-vice-president-the-most-fiscally-conservative-thing-this/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [I spent one night in the hospital in my life. I was past 75 when that occurred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/i-spent-one-night-in-the-hospital-in-my-life-i-was-past-75-when-that/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“I was the only boy in our school what had asthma," said the fat boy with a touch of pride. "And I've been wearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/i-was-the-only-boy-in-our-school-what-had-asthma-said-the-fat-boy/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [The simplest way to look at all these associations, between obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cancer, and Alzheimer's (not to mention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-taubes/the-simplest-way-to-look-at-all-these-associations-between-obesity/) [Gary Taubes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-taubes/) > [“The great trains are going out all over Europe, one by one, but still, three times a week, the Orient Express thunders superbly over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/the-great-trains-are-going-out-all-over-europe-one-by-one-but-still/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [I had my appendix out when I was 11, and that was the last time I was in a hospital. That was a one-night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-had-my-appendix-out-when-i-was-11-and-that-was-the-last-time-i-was/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) [Browse all 163 Asthma quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asthma/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Oh yeah, I would have been a coal miner, I would think, if I hadn't had tuberculosis when I was 12.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Jones" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/oh-yeah-i-would-have-been-a-coal-miner-i-would-think-if-i-hadn-t-had/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asthma" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/oh-yeah-i-would-have-been-a-coal-miner-i-would-think-if-i-hadn-t-had/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/tom-jones-11270_asthma_oh-yeah-i-would-have-been-a-coal-miner-i_673508.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/tom-jones-11270_asthma_oh-yeah-i-would-have-been-a-coal-miner-i_673508.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/tom-jones-11270_asthma_oh-yeah-i-would-have-been-a-coal-miner-i_673508.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Oh yeah, I would have been a coal miner, I would think, if I hadn't had tuberculosis when I was 12.” — Tom Jones", "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": "Tom Jones", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Oh yeah, I would have been...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/oh-yeah-i-would-have-been-a-coal-miner-i-would-think-if-i-hadn-t-had/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/oh-yeah-i-would-have-been-a-coal-miner-i-would-think-if-i-hadn-t-had/#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 } } ] } ```