I've been playing this song for over 40 years now, and have no information on where it comes from. I learned it from my friend Luke Faust, back in the early 60's, and play it on banjo. He learned it from a young woman who was passing through Greenwich Village in the late 50's. These are the words Luke wrote out for me.
Anybody have any further information on lyrics or origin for this one? I've been playing this song again and will probably play it in front of an audience for the first time soon. No sense rushing in to things.

Chesley Town

Monday morning off to school
Friday evening home
Brother comb my sweetheart's hair
As we go marching home

Brother won't you play me a game of ball
Brother won't you toss me a stone
Brother don't comb my sweatheart's hair
As we go marching home

I won't play you no game of ball
I won't toss you no stone
I won't play no games at all
Brother leave me alone

The elder threw the younger down
Threw him to the ground
He took out his little pen knife
And gave him a deathly wound

Met his mother as he turned around home
Looking for her son John
I left him in a lonesome place
A long, long lesson to learn

Met his sweetheart as he turned around home
Looking for her love John
I left him in the new schoolhouse
His books to carry home

She took her harp all in her hand
All tied with a silver string
She went above his lonely grave
So sweetly she did sing

That she sang the red fish out of the sea
The wild birds out of their nests
Sang her true love out of his grave
So he can't find no rest

Go home, go home you ramblin' reed
Weep no more on me
I'm going to some golden place
My face no more you'll see

I suspect this is a Child ballad... maybe called Two Brothers?

Jerry