The idea that these versions stem from a "composed parlor-song" is an interesting and plausible one, and I would love to be able to prove it, if it's true, but I have failed to find the original at The Library of Congress American Memory Collection, or The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music, or Indiana University Sheet Music Collections, or even Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads.

Part of the problem is guessing whether the spelling might be good by, good bye, goodby, good-by, goodbye, or good-bye.

Maybe GOOD-BYE, MY LOVER, GOOD-BYE wasn't even the original title.