Here is another set of La Courte Paille, in answer to a request for the version recorded by a band called "Arcady".  Having never heard of them, I can't be sure that this is the right text, but it seems likely enough.  It appears on several websites, all apparantly deriving from the same, unnamed, source, and is described as Breton.  The narrative is a bit confused in comparison with the collated version I gave earlier in this thread.  Regrettably, none of the sites carrying the text give any indication as to what tune may belong to it.  I give the words as found, though in verse 1 I have substituted "dessus" for "de sur", which is probably either dialectal or the result of a mis-hearing.


 TROIS MATELOTS DU PORT DE BREST

Trois matelots du port de Brest Dessus la mer, djemalon lonla lura, Dessus la mer se sont embarqués.	Three sailors from the port of Brest Upon the sea, djemalon lonla lura, Embarked upon the sea.
Ont bien été trois mois sur mer Sans jamais terre, djemalon lonla lura, Sans jamais terre y aborder.	They were a good three months at sea Without ever coming to land.
Au bout de cinq à six semaines Le pain le vin, djemalon lonla lura, Le pain le vin vint à manquer.	At the end of five to six weeks Bread and wine began to run out.
Fallut tirer la courte paille Pour savoir qui, djemalon lonla lura, Pour savoir qui serait mangé.	They had to draw the short straw To see who would be eaten.
La courte paille tomba sur le chef Ce s'ra donc moi, djemalon lonla lura, Ce s'ra donc moi qui s'rai mangé.	The short straw fell to the chief: "So it is I who shall be eaten."
Oh non sinon, mon capitaine La mort pour vous, djemalon lonla lura, La mort pour vous j'endurerai.	"Oh no, my captain, I shall endure death for you".
La mort pour moi si tu l'endures Cent écus d'or, djemalon lonla lura, Cent écus d'or je t'y donn'rai.	"If you endure death for me, I shall give you a hundred gold crowns.
Ou bien ma fille en mariage Ou c'beau bateau, djemalon lonla lura, Ou c'beau bateau qui est sous nos pieds.	Or else my daughter in marriage, Or this fine boat that is beneath our feet."
Il n'était pas à demi-hune Se mit à rire, djemalon lonla lura, Se mit à rire et à chanter.	He was scarcely halfway up the mast When he began to laugh... When he began to sing.
Courage mes enfants courage Je vois la terre, djemalon lonla lura, Je vois la terre de tous côtés.	"Courage, my children, courage; I see land on every side.
Je vois les tours de Babylone Trois charpentiers, djemalon lonla lura, Trois charpentiers y travailler.	I see the towers of Babylon, Three carpenters working there.
Je vois les moutons sur la lande Trois belles bergères, djemalon lonla lura, Trois belles bergères à les garder.	I see the sheep on the heath, Three beautiful shepherdesses watching over them.
Je crois que j'en reconnais une C'est ma maîtresse, djemalon lonla lura, C'est ma maîtresse du temps passé.	I think that I recognise one of them; It's my mistress from the old days."

Malcolm