From the DT: The Carters recorded 'Picture on the Wall' on February 23 1932. It is credited by Wolfe to Landress and almost certainly learned from the 1927 Yellow Hammers hit recording. Wolfe says Sara recalled that they had learned it 'from an old record'.

From the notes to The Georgia Yellow Hammers lp, Rounder 1032, 1979: This was the band's most successful recording; in 1953 Bud Landress gave an account of its composition to an Atlanta newspaper writer. "Landress, who spent a good deal of his time farming, said he was inspired to write the song one night after he had plowed corn all day. After going to bed, he became fascinated with a picture hanging on the wall of his bedroom and the idea to make the song about it was born. The picture, however, was not one of his mother, about whom the song was written. He got out of bed, wrote the words and 'sawed out the tune' on his old fiddle. Several hours later when the composition was finished, he awakened his wife and sang it to her for an opinion, which probably wasn't very good at that time of night."

There's a good chance Landress based his song on one of the earlier "Picture on the Wall" songs found at American Memory. They made big money on the song, crediting it to another source wasn't something usally done. See the DT for other similar versions.

PICTURE ON THE WALL- Carter Family

There's an old and faded picture on the wall
That has been a-hanging there for many a year
'Tis a picture of my mother, for I know there is no other
That can take the place of mother on the wall

    On the wall (On the wall)
    On the wall (On the wall)
    How I love that dear old picture on the wall
    Time is swiftly passing by and I bow my head and cry
    'Cause I know I'll meet my mother after all

    [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]

Yes, the children all have gathered, all have gone
And I have a little family of my own
And I know I love them well, more than any tongue can tell
But I'll hold that dear old picture on the wall

    On the wall (On the wall)
    On the wall (On the wall)
    How I love that dear old picture on the wall
    Time is swiftly passing by and I bow my head and cry
    'Cause I know I'll meet my mother after all

    [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]

Since I lost that dear old mother years ago
There is none to which with troubles I can go
As my guitar makes its chords I am praying to the Lord
Let me hold that dear old picture on the wall

    On the wall (On the wall)
    On the wall (On the wall)
    How I love that dear old picture on the wall
    Time is swiftly passing by and I bow my head and cry
    'Cause I know I'll meet my mother after all