The words for “Heyr, himna smiður” were written by Kolbeinn Tumason (1173-1208) on the day before he died during the Battle of V ðines. Although at the turn of the 12th century he was one of the most powerful chieftains in Iceland, because of these words, he is most well-known today as a poet. More than 700 years later, the words were set to music by Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson, and the result can be found in most Icelandic hymnals today.