Two thoughts: We learned a neat little song from Cathy Barton and Dave Para, but i can't remember from whom they got it.
I went out west and I slid down south, Wandered till I was wandered out. Miss my midwest thunder storms, Tasseled fields of summer corn.
Chorus:
Gonna ride my pony, girl, Might be half-way 'round the world. Gonna ride my pony, boy, Till I'm home in Illinois.
That sweet one that I love so well, I'll just call her my prairie belle, I wonder if she thinks of me In that flat land I long to see.
These old shoes are gonna turn to gold, Shine so bright when I get home. I'll pick 'em up and I'll put 'em down, Cakewalk, baby, into town.
Ssorry, I can't do melodies. Did they get this from the Volo Bogtrotters?
The other thought: you might want to have a look in your local library for Charles Neely's Tales and Songs of Southern Illinois, Menasha, Wisconsin, George Banta Publishing, 1938.