My father sings it as Charlie wrote it in this thread. He may have learned it in Alabama or Illinois, as he went to school in both places. Charlie wrote the same lyrics - here they are, but my father has no information about the meaning or history of the song, which I too would like to know. How can a castle be mistaken for a young boy?

Across the plains
Of gold and green
A young boy plainly
Can be seen.

Te hoo ya hoo ya hoo ya ya
Swiftly tumbling water
(repeat)

But no 'tis not
A boy at all
It's Ifka's castle
With spires so tall.

Te hoo ya hoo ya hoo ya ya
Swiftly tumbling water
(repeat)