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.

Sandy