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.
Regin Smiður
Týr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Meрan eg man kvшрa
Um teir rнku kongarnar
Sum eg vil nъ um rшрa
Grani bar gulliр av heiрI
Brб hann sinum brandi av reiрI
Sjъrрur vб б orminum
Hundings synir н randargnэ
Teir skaрan gшrdu har
Eitur var н svшrinum
Teir bуru mуti mжare
Fбvnir eitur ormurin
б GlitrarheiрI liggur
Regin er ein gурur smiрur
Fбum er hann dyggur
Hann var sжare б leikvшllum
Imillum manna herjar
Rнvur upp eikikelvi stуare
Hann lemjir summar til heljar
Eystantil undri heyginum
Iр dreingir eyka tal
Dimmur er hesin dapri dagur
Niрur н mold at fara
Har komm maрur б vшllin fram
Eingin Iр hann kendi
Sнрan hatt б hшvdi bar
Og finskan boga н hendi
Har komm maрur б vшllin fram
Hann vб viр eggjateini
Eyga hevрI hann eitt н heysi
Knept var brуk at beini
Ormurin er skriрin av gullinum
Taр man frжttast vнрa
Sjъrрur setist б Granar bak
Hann bэare seg til at rнрa
Grani bar gulliр av heiрI
Brб hann sinum brandi av reiрI
Sjъrрur vб б orminum
Grani bar gulliр av heiрi
The Týr song Regin Smiður is an epic tale of gods, heroes, and the forging of the most powerful weapon in Norse mythology, Mjölnir. The song begins with the singer's desire to share his knowledge of the great kings he admires, and his desire to talk about them. The song then turns to the story of Grani, a hero who brings gold from Mount Heid to his master, Sigurd the Dragon Slayer. Grani is set upon by Hunding's sons, who poison him with an adder, and kill him. Grani's corpse is found by Sigurd, and he mourns his friend's loss.
The narrative then moves to the god Regin, who is revealed to be the master blacksmith behind Mjölnir's creation. The listener is told of Fáfnir - a snake or dragon - who guards Regin's hoard of gold. Sigurd, now immortal through various means, kills Fáfnir and takes the gold. Regin requests that he be gifted the gold, which Sigurd refuses, and Regin is killed for his ambition. The song concludes with Grani being used by Sigurd to ferry the gold to his home, as he rides with his new sword and great treasure on his back.
Line by Line Meaning
Viljiр tжare nъ lэрa б
I want to tell a tale
Meрan eg man kvшрa
While I remember
Um teir rнku kongarnar
About the mighty kings
Sum eg vil nъ um rшрa
I want to speak of them now
Grani bar gulliр av heiрI
Grani carried gold from the heath
Brб hann sinum brandi av reiрI
He wielded his sword made of rowan wood
Sjъrрur vб б orminum
Seidr was used to subdue the serpent
Hundings synir н randargnэ
Hunding's sons fought with shields
Teir skaрan gшrdu har
They wreaked havoc
Eitur var н svшrinum
The sword was poisoned
Teir bуru mуti mжare
They carried their courage with them
Fбvnir eitur ormurin
The dragon's name was Fбfnir
б GlitrarheiрI liggur
It lies in the Glittering Heath
Regin er ein gурur smiрur
Regin is a skilled blacksmith
Fбum er hann dyggur
He is loyal to few
Hann var sжare б leikvшllum
He was highly skilled in games
Imillum manna herjar
Caused death among warriors
Rнvur upp eikikelvi stуare
Ripped up giant oaks with ease
Hann lemjir summar til heljar
He sends some to their final resting place
Eystantil undri heyginum
In the east beyond the wonders of the world
Iр dreingir eyka tal
There are increasing numbers of men
Dimmur er hesin dapri dagur
This dismal day is dark
Niрur н mold at fara
Soon to go down to the earth
Har komm maрur б vшllin fram
A man came forward upon the field
Eingin Iр hann kendi
No one knew him
Sнрan hatt б hшvdi bar
With a hat on his head
Og finskan boga н hendi
And a Finnish bow in his hand
Hann vб viр eggjateini
He was armed with a keen sword
Eyga hevрI hann eitt н heysi
He had a fiery eye
Knept var brуk at beini
His pants were tight around his legs
Ormurin er skriрin av gullinum
The serpent was coiled around the gold
Taр man frжttast vнрa
That is the most well-known story
Sjъrрur setist б Granar bak
Seidr sat down behind Grani
Hann bэare seg til at rнрa
He encouraged himself to speak
Grani bar gulliр av heiрI
Grani carried gold from the heath
Brб hann sinum brandi av reiрI
He wielded his sword made of rowan wood
Sjъrрur vб б orminum
Seidr was used to subdue the serpent
Grani bar gulliр av heiрi
Grani carried gold from the heath
Contributed by Alyssa N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
J. Jonah Jameson
Will you now listen
Whilst I will sing.
About the rich kings
That I will now speak of
Greyfell carried the gold away from the heath
He swung his sword in wrath
Sigfried defeated the dragon
Greyfell carried the gold away from the heath
Hundings sons at war,
They did damage there
Poison was in the sword,
They carried against me
Greyfell carried the gold away from the heath
He swung his sword in wrath
Sigfried defeated the dragon
Greyfell carried the gold away from the heath
Fafnir is the name of the dragon
That lies on the Glittering Heath
Regin is a good blacksmith,
To few is he faithful
Greyfell carried the gold away from the heath
He swung his sword in wrath
Sigfried defeated the dragon
Greyfell carried the gold away from the heath
He was on the fields of play,
Rages amongst men
He tears up large oak trunks,
He maims some to Hell
Greyfell carried the gold away from the heath
He swung his sword in wrath
Sigfried defeated the dragon
Greyfell carried the gold away from the heath
On the eastern side under the mound
Where heroes grow in numbers
Dark is this sad day
Down in mould to go
Greyfell carried the gold away from the heath
He swung his sword in wrath
Sigfried defeated the dragon
Greyfell carried the gold away from the heath
A man stepped forward upon the field
No one knew him
He had a wide hat on his head,
And a Finnish bow in his hand
Greyfell carried the gold away from the heath
He swung his sword in wrath
Sigfried defeated the dragon
Greyfell carried the gold away from the heath
A man stepped forward upon the field
Raging with his sword
He had one eye
And trouser legs were buttoned
Greyfell carried the gold away from the heath
He swung his sword in wrath
Sigfried defeated the dragon
Greyfell carried the gold away from the heath
The dragon has slithered of the gold,
It is rumoured widely
Sigfried seats himself on Greyfells back,
He prepares himself to ride
Greyfell carried the gold away from the heath
He swung his sword in wrath
Sigfried defeated the dragon
Greyfell carried the gold away from the heath
David Yule
Will you now listen
whilst I will sing.
About the rich kings
that I will now speak of
Greyfell carried the gold from the heath
He swung his sword in wrath
Sigfried defeated the dragon
Greyfell carried the gold from the heath
Hundings sons at war
they did damage there
Poison was in the sword
they carried against me
Fafnir is the name of the dragon
that lies on the Glittering Heath
Regin is a good blacksmith
to few is he faithfull
He was on fields of play
rages amongst men
Tears up large oak trunks
he maims some to Hel
On the easten side under the mound
where heroes grow in numbers
Dark is this sad day
down in the mould to go
A man stepped forward upon the field
Noone knew him
He had a wide hat on his head
and a Finnish bow in his hand
A man stepped forward upon the field
raging with his sword
He had one eye
and his trouser legs were buttoned
The dragon has slithered of the gold
it is rumoured widely
Sigfried seats himself on Greyfells back
he prepares himself to ride
Greyfell carried the gold from the heath
He swung his sword in wrath
Sigfried defeated the dragon
Greyfell carried the gold from the heath
Christopher Potter
The Eric the Red album’s probably celebrating its 20th anniversary this year (2023)! MY GOD!!!!! 🤘🎸🗡️
2003: First being released
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008: 5th Anniversary
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013: 10th Anniversary
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018: 15th Anniversary
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023: 20th Anniversary
Couch Captain937
This was my first ever TYR song and still one of my favorites!
Daan
same!
Lady Fibonaccii
I heard the acoustic Northern Lights and the Faroe National Anthem then I heard By The Light Of The Northern Star and went home and binged Týr starting with this song.... fun fact this song is also done by a woman and her son...I love her song Lifeblood.
Billy b
The last good Tyr video
Filip Österberg
Same here!
I found them on Spotify for 10-12 years ago. It was for 10 year old me a very magic experience!
Noel Allen Bose
My first Tyr song. It helped me overcome my depression from dropping in law school back in 2010. Now, I'm on my 3rd of being a lawyer. Thank you, Tyr. Thank you glittering heath!
J
Strength bro! Whats the Norse god of justice?
Noel Allen Bose
@J Tyr!
J
@Noel Allen Bose i thought tyr was War? Sounds about right though
Noel Allen Bose
@J also war. Forseti is also a god of justice. Some Norse gods tend to overlap roles.