IGNITION KEY ISSUES

I have a 72 ford ltd. The problem I have with it is somewhere between the ignition switch and the solenoid which is mounted by the battery there is a short. I have to unhook the ground cable to turn off the motor and vice versa. When I bought the car it was like this. Even if the key is in the off position and I hook up the ground the dash engine lights and so forth come on. This is when the key is off. Someone told me the wires hooked to the solenoid may be wrong but I have no knowledge of how to hook them up. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. GETTING OUT OF THE CAR IS EMBARASSING TO TURN OFF MY CAR. IT DOES HAVE THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION COIL AND ALL TOO. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP SIR'S.