John Henry My name's John Henry, and mister, you got yourself a bet!
Played by Roger Aaron Brown 
Tall Tale (1995) · 61 quotes
Tall Tale (1995) · 61 quotes
Tied for 3rd most-quoted character in Tall Tale (1995): in 13 of its 61 quotes
Most scenes with: Paul Bunyan (4), Pecos Bill (3), Daniel Hackett (3)
Twenty-pound hammer, shines like silver.
More lines from John Henry
7 quotes John Henry John Henry Even money, Pecos! You can do better than that! [Pecos Bill: I don't know, John Henry, that thingamajigger looks like it means business!] We'll see!
John Henry You don't know what you can do until you try.
John Henry I never miss. Least-wise, I haven't yet.
John Henry Knowing the code ain't the same as living by it.
John Henry I used to be the line with my daddy when I was a young'un. I never caught much, but that was never the point.
John Henry My daddy was the same way, always telling me what to do like I didn't have no mind of my own. [...] Well now, see, he only bothered on account of how much he cared for me. Daddy was just doing the best he knew how. It's what grieves me, I never got the gumption to tell him how I felt about it. [Daniel: Why not?] Daddy got sold downriver. [Daniel: Sold?] We were slaves. It's too late for me. Let's hope it's not too late for you.
Scenes with John Henry
5 scenes John Henry My record was perfect before today.
Now you are forever tarnished with ignominious defeat.
I once seen a picture of New York City at night, it's all lit up with all these electric light bulbs. Can use a few of them right now.
Electric light ball?
Light bulbs. They're balls of glass that light up hundreds of times brighter than the brightest candle.
John Henry Go on.
Well, pretty soon, people won't need lanterns, won't have to go chop their wood to make fires. Just turn this little knob and the electric light bulbs just come on.
But I like chopping wood.
Pretty soon, there won't be no darkness. It'll be like noontime at midnight.
John Henry Well, how are folks going to see the stars?
They just... won't see the stars, I guess.
Well, I don't like it. No siree Bob, I don't like it one... Oh... [laughs] If you ask me, I think he's telling us a tall tale.
Yeah, that's a tall tale. That's a tall tale for sure.
That's God's honest truth.
Not see the stars?
This ain't nothin' compared to the summer of '88. It was so hot, all the chickens was layin' fried eggs and babies was cryin' sawdust. Things got so bad, the whole state of Texas lit on fire. So I hightailed it up to Kansas...
Does this story have a point? Or does it just go on and on and on like this stinkin' desert?
Yeah, this story has a point. I blew out the dang fire! You know, I'm gettin' sick and tired of you complaining and whining all the time!
I'm lost in a giant barbeque pit and I don't know what's going to kill me first: the heat, the thirst, or having' to listen to your inceseant yammerin!
John Henry [Kicking Paul with sand]
You shut up, shut up, shut up, you over-grown tub of lard!
You stay out of this you-you contest loser! What did you call me?!
John Henry [Paul and Henry start to fight]
You're nothing but a big fat quitter! QUITTER, QUITTER, QUITTER!
Harm one hair on that boy's head and you're a dead man, Stiles.
I got no quarrel with you, cowboy, or your friends.
You sure got a peculiar way of showing it.
You can't have the -
If that's your way of thinking, I reckon we don't.
You don't stop progress, cowboy. That's the difference between me and you. I can adjust to the times. You can't.
Don't listen to him, Daniel.
John Henry We can beat this thing yet.
You've just got to believe, boy.
[hesitates, turns to Pecos, John and Paul]
Where do you get off telling me what to do? Where do any of you get off telling people how to live?!
That's it, boy. That's the spirit!
Don't lose the dream, Daniel.
John Henry You don't know what you can do until you try.
Don't give up on yourself, kid.
You all are nothing! Just a bunch of tall tales that my pa made up! [turns to Pecos Bill] And you are nothing but hot air.
I ain't got all day, boy. Time is money.
Don't do it, Daniel.
John Henry! Where have you been?!
John Henry [holding the train back]
Just waiting for you to make your move, Daniel. Just waiting for your to make your move.
