Goodbye to the Plains is a western song. Tex Owens did a version for Bluebird called "Pals of the Prairie" a year before the Carters but his wasn't released. Pals of the Prairie was also the name of a silent movie western done in 1929.

Alan Lomax collected this song which seems to be the basis:

Good-by to my pals of the prairie,
Good-by to the cattle and the trail,
Good-by to the cards and the drinking,
Good-by to the prairies and the vale.

If anyone can track down more info on the Lomax song. Clearly there's some rewrites going on. Anyone have more info?

GOODBYE TO THE PLAINS- Carter Family 1937

Goodbye to the pals of the prairie
Goodbye to the pals of the plains
Goodbye to the dash and the danger
Goodbye to the heartaches and pains

Instrumental Break

Goodbye to my faithful old pony
Take care of him, boys, when I go
I'm riding away on life's roundup
Away to where the sun sinks low

Instrumental Break

Goodbye to the hoof-rushing cattle
Goodbye to the clanking of spurs
Goodbye to the laugh and the chatter
Goodbye to the wildlife and steers

Goodbye to the dawning's first blushes
That spare in the east faintly glow
I'm riding away on life's roundup
Away to where the sun sinks low

Instrumental Break


Goodbye to the girls and the boys
Goodbye to all of my friends
Goodbye to the dear girl, my sweetheart
For I know this is my end

For the pale rider comes with his summons
And I'm willing and ready to go
For I'm riding away on life's roundup
Away where the sun sinks low