Why would the cowboy leave Old Paint in Cheyenne?

[raccoon]

Most of you are familiar with the song “Goodbye, Old Paint.” I heard it on the radio a few days ago, and I got to wondering.

Why would the cowboy (presumably the narrator is a cowboy) leave Old Paint in Cheyenne?
The cowboy says he’s off to Montana. Surely cowboys need horses in Montana as much as they do in Cheyenne.

I looked up the lyrics of the song. Stanza 2 suggests that Old Paint is an old, tired horse (“Old Paint's a good pony. He runs when he can, Good morning young lady, My pony won't stand.”). Maybe that’s why the cowboy is leaving him behind.

But then, Stanza 4 says the cowboy is RIDING Old Paint (“I'm a-riding old Paint”). If he's riding Old Paint, why is he saying goodbye to the horse? What gives? Any thoughts?


Lyrics

Goodbye, old Paint,
I'm a-leaving Cheyenne.
Goodbye, old Paint,
I'm a-leaving Cheyenne.

Old Paint's a good pony.
He runs when he can,
Good morning young lady,
My pony won't stand.

Goodbye, old Paint,
I'm a-leaving Cheyenne.
Goodbye, old Paint,
I'm a-leaving Cheyenne.

I'm a-riding old Paint,
I'm a-leading old Fan,
Goodbye, little Annie,
I'm off for Montan'.

Goodbye, old Paint,
I'm a-leaving Cheyenne.
Goodbye, old Paint,
I'm a-leaving Cheyenne.

Oh, hitch up your horses,
And feed them some hay,
And seat yourself by me
As long as you stay.

Goodbye, old Paint,
I'm a-leaving Cheyenne.
Goodbye, old Paint,
I'm a-leaving Cheyenne.

My horses ain't hungry,
They'll not eat your hay,
My wagon is loaded
And rolling away.

Goodbye, old Paint,
I'm a-leaving Cheyenne.
Goodbye, old Paint,
I'm a-leaving Cheyenne.

http://makingmusicfun.net/htm/f_mmf_music_library_songbook/goodbye-old-paint-lyrics.htm

Another source:
http://www.cmnonline.org/MagicPenny/songs/Goodbye%20Old%20Paint.pdf

[Silver Swan]

1. I never understood

Why he says he is riding Old Paint and leading Old Fan (or Dan, as I learned it) if he is saying, "Goodbye, Old Paint." It sounds like Old Paint is going with him...

[raccoon]

2. Exactly, it doesn't make sense. nt

[frogmarch]

3. Arlo Guthrie's version makes sense

http://www.arlo.net/resources/lyrics/ride-old-paint.shtml

I Ride an Old Paint
arranged and adapted by Arlo Guthrie

I ride an old paint, I lead an old dan
I'm goin' to Montana to throw the hoolihan (hoolihan: http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/9987/what-is-hoolihan-in-old-paint-song )
They feed in the coulees, they water in the draw
Their tails are all matted, their backs are all raw

CHORUS:
Ride around little dogies, ride around them slow
For the fiery and snuffy are rarin' to go

Old Bill Jones had a daughter and a son
One went to college, the other went wrong
His wife, she got killed in a poolroom fight
But still he's a-singin' from mornin' till night

CHORUS

When I die, take my saddle from the wall
Place it on my old pony, lead him out of his stall
Tie my bones to my saddle and turn our faces to the West
And we'll ride the prairie we love the best

CHORUS

I ride an old paint, I lead an old dan
I'm goin' to Montana to throw the hoolihan
They feed in the coulees, they water in the draw
Their tails are all matted, and their backs are all raw

CHORUS

©1991 Arloco Music Inc
All Rights Reserved.

[raccoon]

4. Didn't know Arlo had recorded that, thanks for the link. nt