Admitting Defeat and Selfish Motives
Throughout the film Easy Rider, the viewer witnesses a internal struggle between counterculture/individualism and the pressure and underlying desire to conform to the lifestyle that is prescribed, mapped out, and easy. Captain American embodies this contradictory attitude, as Laderman argues:
Captain America's peaceful soul searching strangely recollects and rearticulates the quiet stoicism of the cowboy. He also admires the rugged individualism of the farmer; from this perspective, his name suddenly reveals the militant patriotism and "manifest destiny" it intends to mock." (48, Journal of Film and Video)
Throughout the film, Captain America and Billy attempt to lose themselves among the outliers of civilization, yet their ultimate goal of smuggling drug money negates their efforts to 'get back to the earth'. While eating with the farmer's family, Capitan America remarks "You should be proud". Capitan America truly admires an escape from capitalism, and living off of the land. Yet, he and Billy's motives are ultimately selfish and rooted in capitalism, tainting their interaction with those who are truly "apart" from the constraints of society.
The lyrics to a song from the soundtrack, "Its alright Ma (I'm only bleeding)" by Robert McGuin, explain:
Pointed threats, they bluff with scorn/ suicide remarks are torn. From the fools gold mouthpiece/ the hollow horn plays wasted words/proved to warn/that he not busy being born/ is busy dying
Here the sentiment of being dragged down by capitalist desires is echoed in "fools gold mouthpiece" and "he not busy being born/ is busy dying". Although Billy and Capitan American claim to be "apart" from societies demands, they ultimately surrender by claiming their ultimate adventure is one of discovery, when in reality -- its motives are monetary.
Capitan America's utterance "We blew it" epitomizes the disappointment he discovers within himself when he realizes how the open road, adventure, and individualism they claimed to seek was driven by money and self-service. In the end, the road movie ideals "punish" their greed, and cut their trip (and their lives) short.
Here is Bob Dylan singing the song "Its alright Ma (I'm only bleeding)"