It was adopted as the national anthem in 1944, when the country declared independence by voting to end its "personal union" and become a republic.

Though many of their initial composers had to study and apply their trade abroad due to insufficient opportunities on offer at home, they were able to bring what they had learned back to Iceland.

[3][4] One of these musicians was Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson, who was the first person from his homeland to pursue "an international career as a composer".

[7] Although the commemorative plaque in Edinburgh purports that both the music and lyrics were written there, it is nowadays believed that Jochumsson had in fact produced the latter back in his homeland.

[9][10] The song was first played on August 2 of that year,[10] at a service celebrated at Reykjavík Cathedral to commemorate the milestone, with the King of Iceland, Christian IX, in attendance.

[7][11] However, the song was not officially adopted as the country's national anthem until 70 years later in 1944,[12] when Icelanders voted in a referendum to end their state's personal union with Denmark and become a republic.

Úr sólkerfum himnanna hnýta þér krans þínir herskarar, tímanna safn.

Fyrir þér er einn dagur sem þúsund ár og þúsund ár dagur, ei meir: eitt eilífðar smáblóm með titrandi tár, sem tilbiður guð sinn og deyr.

Vér föllum fram og fórnum þér brennandi, brennandi sál, guð faðir, vor drottinn frá kyni til kyns, og vér kvökum vort helgasta mál.

Vér kvökum og þökkum í þúsund ár, því þú ert vort einasta skjól.

Vér kvökum og þökkum með titrandi tár, því þú tilbjóst vort forlagahjól.

Voru morgunsins húmköldu, hrynjandi tár, sem hitna við skínandi sól.

Vér deyjum, ef þú ert ei ljós það og líf, sem að lyftir oss duftinu frá.

verði gróandi þjóðlíf með þverrandi tár, sem þroskast á guðsríkis braut.

The hoarfrost of morning which tinted those years, Thy sun rising high, shall command!

Our life is a feeble and quivering reed; We perish, deprived of Thy spirit and light To redeem and uphold in our need.