Nelson clarified in his autobiography, It's A Long Story: My Life that it was an original phrase from songwriter Harlan Howard. An example of Nelson quoting the phrase: [A lot of country music is sad. I think most art comes out of poverty and hard times. It applies to music. Three chords and the truth — that’s what a country song is. There is a lot of heartache in the world., http://theboot.com/willie-nelson-parade-interview/?trackback=tsmclip, Willie Nelson Opens Up About Music, Marriages and Marijuana, Horne, Marianne, June 28, 2010, The Boot, Taste of Country, January 21, 2014]
Attributed