English musician Cliff Williams is most known for being the rock group Status Quo's bassist and backing vocalist. His quotation captures his early years, when he was raised by a father whose work required frequent moves, resulting in a family that lived on the move.

Williams was born in London, but he and his family had to move frequently because of his father's job, which required him to be transferred by his employer to different cities. This statement illustrates the difficulties faced by families when one parent must relocate frequently for work, frequently removing children from familiar environments.

Consider a tree whose roots are always moving underneath it. Because of these frequent moves, Williams and his family had to constantly modify their lives, much like a tree must change its growth pattern to stabilize itself on new ground every time the earth moves below. This metaphor shows how a young person may find such a lifestyle to be both difficult and forming.

The quote also discusses adaptability and resilience. Cliff went on to become a well-known figure in the music industry in spite of the chaos brought on by these frequent moves, demonstrating that while childhood instability may create challenges, it does not preclude success or personal development in later life.