"Heyr himna smiður" live at a train station, Germany 2013

(arstidir.com) - After our concert in Wuppertal, Germany, we realized that the reverb/echo of the train station outside the venue favored singing, so we spontaneously decided to try it out with the old Icelandic hymn "Heyr himna smiður."

From Wikipedia: Notwithstanding his opposition to bishop Guðmundur, sources indicate that Kolbeinn was a devoutly religious man of some education. He is best known for composing the hymn Heyr himna smiður (English: "Hear, Heavenly Creator") on his deathbed. It is now a classic and often-sung Icelandic hymn. The song, which accompanies the text was composed by Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson, over 700 years later. The original text is presented here with 19th-century Icelandic spelling and a rough, literal translation into English.

Heyr, himna smiður, hvers skáldið biður. Komi mjúk til mín miskunnin þín. Því heit eg á þig, þú hefur skaptan mig. Eg er þrællinn þinn, þú ert drottinn minn. Guð, heit eg á þig, að þú græðir mig. Minnst þú, mildingur, mín, mest þurfum þín. Ryð þú, röðla gramur, ríklyndur og framur, hölds hverri sorg úr hjartaborg. Gæt þú, mildingur, mín, mest þurfum þín, helzt hverja stund á hölda grund. Send þú, meyjar mögur, málsefnin fögur, öll er hjálp af þér, í hjarta mér.

Listen, smith of the heavens, what the poet asks. May softly come unto me thy mercy. So I call on thee, for thou hast created me. I am thy slave, thou art my Lord. God, I call on thee to heal me. Remember me, mild one, (or mild king. This is a pun on the word mildingur). Most we need thee. Drive out, O king of suns, generous and great, every human sorrow from the city of the heart. Watch over me, mild one, Most we need thee, truly every moment in the world of men. send us, son of the virgin, good causes, all aid is from thee, in my heart.