J.D. Considine from
The Baltimore Sun complimented 'Thank You for Hearing Me' as the "crowning glory" of
Universal Mother, which with its "bone-simple melody and deep, hypnotic pulse, expresses a gratitude so heartfelt and self-effacing it seems more like a prayer than a song."
Larry Flick from
Billboard magazine described it as an "ethereal
hip-hop track", adding that "it should intrigue those who prefer their pop with vigilant melodies and a smart passion." In a separate single review, he described it as "passionate, emotive, firey, beautiful. This single is a wonderful reminder of why audiences fell in love with O'Connor before all the controversy. It conveys emotion with the sincerity only she can give, using a rising crescendo before slipping into a hushed whisper near the end." Michael R. Smith from The Daily Vault wrote that the singer herself "is left with a surprising feeling of appreciation, especially for those who had stood by her through it all, and she shows her gratitude with the inspiring closer". In his weekly UK chart commentary,
James Masterton found that it "achieves almost
hymn-like proportions with Sinead singing like the angel you always suspected she was. Exactly how commercial it will be remains to be seen, she has made spine-tingling records that have flopped in the past, but for the moment it is good to welcome her back to the heights." Dave Jennings from
Melody Maker said, "It goes without saying that the voice is wonderful, and the track also boasts a rather excellent bassline." Pan-European magazine
Music & Media commented, "Gloria in excelsis deo, Sinead is singing a prayer on a dance rhythm." Alan Jones from
Music Week gave it a score of four out of five, writing, "This is an odd track; it's very simple, extremely repetitive and almost hymnal in it quiet gentleness, apart from a sinewy bassline." He concluded that "its success as a single is assured".
Dele Fadele from
NME praised it as "the glorious finale" of the album, saying the song is "even more groovy, music-wise as she lists a lot of good things to thank an un-named suitor for, before slipping in
thank you for breaking my heart whilst a celestial backing track rolls into the horizon." Joy Press from
Spin deemed it "a post-suicide-attempt song that hums with lush gratitude for life's little favors." David Yonke from
Toledo Blade remarked that the singer "offers an
olive branch to those who have given her a chance." ==Chart performance==