Jonathan Michael Fleming, I Left My Home | Wacky Wednesday

In the first edition of Wacky Wednesday (2026), we break down the unique “I Left My Home,” performed by Jonathan Michael Fleming.

Do you know what day it is? It is Wednesday, folks! Do you know what that means? Why, it is Wacky Wednesday! In the spirited column Wacky Wednesday, we analyze, break down, and explore songs from various musicians of various genres that can be considered unique, unusual, or ‘wacky.’  These songs can be new or old; the only requirement is that they ‘catch the ears’ because of their distinctiveness.  With the background established, in the first edition of Wacky Wednesday (2026), we break down the unique “I Left My Home”, performed by Jonathan Michael Fleming. Wacky Wednesday vibes commence!

Woo! Those lyrics are rhythmic, engaging, and utterly infectious! Furthermore, call and response is the gift that keeps on giving! Unsurprisingly, “I Left My Home”, performed by Jonathan Michael Fleming, went viral.  Memes, memes, and more memes.  It’s understandable, given how catchy this cadence is, not to mention the creativity of our youth. Roll your eyes, old heads, but the kids are talented! But, it should also be noted that this cadence, which is not a Fleming original, is emotional and meaningful to those who currently or have served in the army, military, etc.

“I Left My Home” is the cadence that John Michael Fleming is most renowned for.  It appears as the opener from his 2022 album, fittingly named Cadences Volume 1. He sets the tone in the opening verse (or however you’d like to name the opening section) by naming all the people and pets left at home when someone joins the army.  He then unveils the titular lyrics in the second verse, asserting, “I left my home (I left my home) / To join the army (To join the army).” He elaborates about the emotions experienced by the people, himself, and other soldiers’ families feel when they leave to serve. “The day I left (The day I left) / My mama cried (My mama cried),” he sings, and continues, “She thought that I (She thought that I ) / Would surely die (Would surely die).” Similarly, Fleming describes the wife, fearing her husband “Would die at war,” as well as the son, “Seeing daddy leave /… Made him cry so hard.” Notably, during this portion of the record, stomping is cued.  In the outro, continuing to be filled with emotion, Fleming spiritedly sings, “Oo-wee, oo-wee.” Jonathan Michael Fleming puts his foot into “I Left My Home”. Listening to his performance, you can sense his love of country and soldiers who serve it.  Beyond Fleming, years earlier, South African 🇿🇦 musician The Kiffness (David Scott, b. 1988) delivered his own unique remix of “I Left My Home” featuring Drill Sergeant DePalo.  What more can you say but, ‘Merica 🇺🇸!

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Jonathan » Cadences Vol. 1 » PNN Entertainment » 2022

Jonathan, I Left My Home (Military Cadence): Wacky Wednesday No. 1 (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; PNN Entertainment; Vitaly Gorbachev from Pexels; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Gordon Johnson from Pixabay]

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