Here's a version I've been working on for the "Rivers of Kentucky."

RIVERS OF KENTUCKY

We crossed the Kentucky, we forded the Brushy,
Swum the Mouth of Buck Creek, we followed Salt River
Big Sandy runs muddy, the Cumberland clear
But down by Short Creek I courted my dear

Li li li lee lee lee, give me your hand
Li li li lee lee lee, give me your hand
Li li li lee lee lee, give me your hand
There's many a river that waters the land

The sweet Green River runs glossy and gliding
The crooked Rockcastle runs weaving and winding
The Tennessee River, it courses the plain
But I never will walk down by Short Creek again

The boys on the Elkhorn, they're handsome and witty
The Salt and the Barren have many a cutie
And down by Rough River, there's boys by the score
But I never will walk by Short Creek no more

He kissed me and called me his sweet sugar-candy
The Ohio is muddy, the Tug Fork is sandy
I hugged him and kissed him and called him my own
But down by Short Creek he left me alone


It's still a work in progress; I have an email I sent to my brother (a geologist who works for the state, with a couple of questions about particular rivers.