Týr began in January 1998. Heri Joensen met his old bandmate, Kári Streymoy, at a party in Copenhagen, Denmark. Joensen suggested to Streymoy that they should meet up and jam. Streymoy initially declined, but later took him up on his offer.
They were soon joined by another former bandmate, bassplayer Gunnar H. Thomsen, making the duo a trio. They began making music which was heavily inspired by Norse mythology, Faroese traditional music, and heavy metal music in general. According to the band's frontman Heri Joensen, Týr's "musical mission is to break down the walls that are erected between all the kinds of metal that have arisen over the years. Power-, doom-, black-, progressive-, gothic-, viking-, folk-, ethnic- and epic metal. Walls and labels do nothing but fill people with prejudice."[1]
The name of the band comes from Týr, a Norse god. Before Týr, Joensen and Thomsen formed their first band, at the age of seventeen. They called themselves Cruiser. Streymoy also played with them for a short while. They later changed their name to Wolfgang. Although neither band released any albums, Wolfgang lasted until 2000, which was long enough to record an undisclosed amount of songs that, according to Joensen are "pretty much ready to release.[2]"
Týr was a part of the Paganfest tour in Europe and the US in 2008, with Ensiferum headlining. Other bands on the tour included Eluveitie, Turisas in the US, and Moonsorrow and Korpiklaani joined them on the European part of the tour.
Hail to the Hammer
Týr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Low in the winter
Grey as a wolf now the wind has come
Cold as a hunter
Ride across the sky, thunder roll and lightning fly
Gone is the summer
What will keep us warm in the winter
Hail to the hammer, Hail to the hammer
Narrow eyes turn against the wind
Out from the ocean
Untill the day when we sail again
Life is a long pain
Ride across the sky, thunder roll and lightning fly
Gone is the summer
What will keep us warm in the winter
Tales of those who died, sword in hand in times gone by
Hail to the hammer, Hail to the hammer
To the god of thunder
The god that's protecting us all
All hail to the giant hunter
And hail to the forces of nature all
Ride across the sky, thunder roll and lightning fly
Gone is the summer
What will keep us warm in the winter
Tales of those who died, sword in hand in times gone by
Hail to the hammer, Hail to the hammer,
Hail to the hammer, Hail to the hammer
The lyrics to Tyr's song "Hail to the Hammer" are a tribute to the harsh realities of life in the winter for the Norse people. The longing eyes that turn into the sun and the reference to the cold wind as a hunter paint a picture of a desolate landscape. The mention of tales of those who died with sword in hand in times gone by reminds the listener of the fierce warriors who fought for the survival of their people. The refrain of "Hail to the hammer" is a reverent nod to the god of thunder and the forces of nature that protected the Norse people.
The song speaks to the harsh realities of life in the winter. The Norse people knew that they had to be prepared for the cold, dark months that lay ahead, and the lyrics of the song capture that feeling of apprehension. The reference to the god of thunder and the giant hunter is a reminder of the importance of the natural world to the Norse people. The song is a blend of reverence and respect for the harsh beauty of the winter landscape and an acknowledgement of the power of the gods to protect them.
Line by Line Meaning
Longing eyes turn into the sun
As the winter approaches, our hopeful anticipation turns to the sun for warmth and light.
Low in the winter
The sun is low in the sky during the winter months, providing less light and warmth.
Grey as a wolf now the wind has come
The arrival of winter brings with it a bleak and dreary landscape, like that of a wolf's fur.
Cold as a hunter
Winter is a ruthless hunter, bringing cold temperatures that can chill us to the bone.
Ride across the sky, thunder roll and lightning fly
The power of nature is on full display as the storm rages across the sky.
Gone is the summer
The warmth and light of summer are now distant memories as winter sets in.
What will keep us warm in the winter
As we brace ourselves for the long, cold winter ahead, we wonder what will help us stay warm and survive.
Tales of those who died, sword in hand in times gone by
Stories of ancient warriors who fought bravely, even to their last breath, remind us of the power of strength and courage.
Hail to the hammer, Hail to the hammer
We pay tribute to the weapon of the gods, the mighty hammer, as a symbol of strength and protection.
Narrow eyes turn against the wind
As the wind picks up, we squint our eyes against the fierce gusts that whip across the landscape.
Out from the ocean
The ocean, a vast and mysterious force, reminds us of the power of the natural world around us.
Untill the day when we sail again
We look forward to the day when we can once again set sail and explore the world beyond our shores.
Life is a long pain
The struggles and challenges of life can feel never-ending, like a constant source of pain.
To the god of thunder
We offer our respect and reverence to the deity of thunder, a powerful force of nature.
The god that's protecting us all
We acknowledge the important role that the gods play in our lives, watching over us and keeping us safe.
All hail to the giant hunter
We praise the mighty hunter who is able to defeat even the largest and strongest of prey.
And hail to the forces of nature all
We honor and recognize all the incredible, awe-inspiring natural forces that surround and sustain us.
Contributed by Luke C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MiorineRembran
If anyone's interested, here are the lyrics below:
Longing eyes turn into the sun
Low in the winter
Grey as a wolf now the wind has come
Cold as a hunter
Ride across the sky, thunder roll and lightning fly
Gone is the summer
What will keep us warm in the winter
Tales of those who died, sword in hand in times gone by
Hail to the hammer, Hail to the hammer
Narrow eyes turn against the wind
Out from the ocean
Untill the day when we sail again
Life is a long pain
Ride across the sky, thunder roll and lightning fly
Gone is the summer
What will keep us warm in the winter
Tales of those who died, sword in hand in times gone by
Hail to the hammer, Hail to the hammer
To the god of thunder
The god that's protecting us all
All hail to the giant hunter
And hail to the forces of nature all
Ride across the sky, thunder roll and lightning fly
Gone is the summer
What will keep us warm in the winter
Tales of those who died, sword in hand in times gone by
Hail to the hammer, Hail to the hammer,
Hail to the hammer, Hail to the hammer
@JacquiPenar
the only video on 240p worth watching again and again! Hail to the Hammer!
@blah6028
and at 15fps.
@lifefromwithin
Truuu
@JacquiPenar
If this isn't played at my funeral then i won't go
@chiefwhitenoise5227
This piece surely is grave enough for a funeral.🙃
@tyrex1430
Here here!
@JacquiPenar
One of the best songs ever created by man. It's as if the Gods wrote this epic song. HAIL TO THE HAMMER!
@immortal4471
For Isaac Musser my childhood friend who lost the war with Muscular Dystrophy he fought his battles every day without fear until the very end. May we meet again in the halls of Valhalla brother.. Hail to the hammer.
@Xbuster6
Saw this back in 2006 when it was uploaded. Still enjoying it to this day. : )
@triggerhappy19832007
I think the pixelated 240p actually makes this better. It's been in my favorites list for years, and i rediscovered it today.
Hail to the Hammer!