| Pop Song | Live | Recd | Maps and Legends |
| W. S. Walcott Medicine Show: (Robbie Robertson) | 1989 | Live 1989: Nigel & the Crosses | |
| Wafflehouse: (Kinney / Nielsen / Sullivan) | 1989 | Live 1989: Peter Buck / Drivin' 'n' Cryin' (Parody of Powerhouse) | |
| Wait: | 1981 | Known as a demo recorded during Lifes Rich Pageant sessions | |
| Wait Up: (Jay Farrar / Jeff Tweedy) | 1992 | Recd 1992: Peter Buck / Uncle Tupelo | |
| Waiting For My Man: (Lou Reed) | 2000 | Live 2000: Peter Buck / The Minus 5 | |
| Wake-Up Bomb, The: | 1995 | 1996 | |
| Walk, Don't Run: (Ventures) | 1983 | Live 1983: Hindu Love Gods Also live 1985: R.E.M. Also live 1987: The Mystery Twins | |
| Walk Unafraid: | 1998 | 1998 | |
| Walkin' Blues: (Robert Johnson) | 1987 | Recd 1987: Hindu Love Gods | |
| Walk On The Wild Side: (Lou Reed) | 1991 | Also live 1997: Mike Mills / Hootie and the Blowfish | |
| Wall Of Death: (Richard Thompson) | 1994 | ||
| Walter's Barbeque Ad.: | 1983 | ||
| Walter's Theme: | 1984 | 1983 | Lyrics borrowed from Lonesome Cowboy Dave |
| Wang Dang Doodle: (Koko Taylor) | 2001 | 1987 | Recd 1987: Hindu Love Gods Live 2001: Mike Mills / The Croakers |
| Wasp: (Chickasaw Mudd Puppies) | 1991 | Recd 1991: Michael Stipe / Chickasaw Mudd Puppies | |
| Wasted Bandage: (Peter Buck / Scott McCaughey) | 1997 | 1997 | Live 1997: Peter Buck / The Minus 5 Recd 1997: Peter Buck / The Minus 5 |
| Waterloo Sunset: (Ray Davies) | 1989 | Live 1989: Nigel & the Crosses | |
| Way Down South: (Pete Zaremba) | 1985 | 1984 | Live 1985: Peter Buck / Full Time Men Recd 1984: P. Buck / M. Mills / Full Time Men |
| Way Out, A: (Tommy Keene) | 1989 | Recd 1989: Peter Buck / Tommy Keene | |
| Way You Dream, The: (Bridgeman / Cattoo / Stipe) | 2002 | Recd 2002: Michael Stipe / Asha Bhosle | |
| Wayward Wind, The: (Tex Ritter / Gogi Grant / Frank Ifield) | 1985 | Also known as It's a Restless World | |
| Wax Doll: (Robyn Hitchcock) | 1989 | 1989 | Live 1989: Nigel & the Crosses Recd 1989: Peter Buck / R. Hitchcock & the Egyptians |
| We Are Family: (Sister Sledge) | 1984 | Medley with We Walk | |
| We Don't Need Another Hero: (Terry Britten / Graham Lyle) | 1986 | ||
| We Live As We Dream Alone: (Gill / King) | 1989 | A cappella prelude to World Leader Pretend | |
| We Shall Overcome: (C. Albert Tindley) | 1992 | Live 1992: Michael Stipe / Peter Gabriel / Natalie Merchant | |
| We Walk: | 1982 | 1983 | |
| Weight Of The World: (Christy McWilson) | 2000 | 2000 | Recd 2000 / Live 2000: Peter Buck / Christy McWilson |
| Welcome To The Occupation: | 1987 | 1987 | Also live 1987: The Mystery Twins |
| Wendell Gee: | 1984 | 1985 | |
| We're Missing The Jayhawks For This: Scott McCaughey) | 2000 | Live 2000: Peter Buck / The Minus 5 | |
| We're Not So Bad: (????) | 1999 | Michael Stipe; Cartoon: Olive, The Reindeer | |
| Werewolves Of London: (Marinelli / Wachtel / Zevon) | 1984 | Live 1984: Hindu Love Gods w/ Warren Zevon on vocals | |
| West Of The Fields: (Berry / Neil Bogan / Buck / Mills / Stipe) | 1981 | 1983 | |
| What Goes On: (Lou Reed) | 1997 | Live 1997: Peter Buck / Popsycle Shoppe Incident; Via Sea-Tac II | |
| What If We Give It Away ?: | 1986 | 1986 | Also known as Get on Their Way and Why Don't We Get on Their Way ? |
| What It Is: (G. Langley / R. Bell) | 1990 | Recd 1990: Michael Stipe / The Blue Aeroplanes | |
| What Life Starts With: (Kevn Kinney?) | 1990 | Live 1990: Peter Buck / Kevn Kinney | |
| What's New, Pussycat ?: (Tom Jones) | 1985 | ||
| What's The Frequency, Kenneth ?: | 1995 | 1994 | |
| What's The Frequency, Kenneth ? (Instrumental Version): | 1994 | ||
| What's Your Game ?: (Reg Presley) | 1992 | Recd 1992: Bill Berry / Peter Buck / Mike Mills / The Troggs | |
| Wheel Of Fortune, The: (Traditional) | 1987 | Live 1987: Michael Stipe / Natalie Merchant Also known as The Counting Song | |
| When I Was Young: | 1985 | 1985 | Known as I Believe |
| When The Night Falls: (T-Bone Burnette) | 1985 | 1985 | Live 1985: Peter Buck / Fleshtones Recd 1985: Peter Buck / Fleshtones |
| When You Come Back: (Kinney / Nielsen / Sullivan / Fowler) | 1993 | Live Peter Buck / Kevn Kinney | |
| When You're Around: (Scott McCaughey) | 1995 | Live 1995: Peter Buck / Scott McCaughey | |
| Where Or When: (Jazz standard) | 2000 | Live 2000: Peter Buck / Julian / Scott McCaughey / Robert Lloyd / Kevin Jarvis | |
| Where's Captain Kirk ?: (Mark Stephens / Kenneth Spiers) | 1992 | ||
| Where Were You: (Vic Chesnutt) | 1994 | Recd 1994: Michael Stipe / Vic Chesnutt | |
| Wishin': (Christy McWilson) | 2000 | Recd 2000: Peter Buck / Christy McWilson | |
| Whisper Tames The Lion: (Kevn Kinney / Tim Nielsen / Jeff Sullivan) | 1989 | Live 1989: Peter Buck / Drivin' 'n' Cryin' Also live 1990: Peter Buck / Kevn Kinney | |
| Whispering Grass: (Raposo) | 1984 | ||
| Whistling Past The Grave: (Michael Stipe / Pete Zaremba / Keith Streng) | 1993 | Recd 1993: The Fleshtones | |
| White Light, White Heat: (Lou Reed) | 1984 | Live 1984: Hindu Love Gods | |
| White Tornado: | 1981 | 1981 | Also known as Generic Surf Song and Stronger Than Dirt |
| White Train: (Peter Holsapple) | 1991 | Live 1991: Bingo Hand Job | |
| Whiter Shade Of Pale, A: (Gary Brooker / Keith Reid) | 1989 | Recd 1989: Vibrating Egg incl. Mike Mills (William B.Carr) / Jefferson Holt (Raoul Duplott) a.o. | |
| Whole Lotta Love: (J. Page / R. Plant / J. P. Jones / J. Bonham) | 1986 | ||
| Why Don't We Get On Their Way ?: | 1986 | 1986 | Known as What If We Give It Away ? |
| Why Not Smile?: | 1999 | 1998 | |
| Why Not Smile? (Oxford American Version): | 1998 | ||
| Wichita Lineman: (Jimmy Webb) | 1993 | 1995 | Live 1993: Michael Stipe / Vic Chesnutt Also live 1995: R.E.M. Recd 1995: Live version |
| Wicked Game: (Chris Isaak) | 1995 | 1995 | Also live 1997: Buck / Mills / Stipe / Mark Eitzel / Barrett Martin / Justin Harwood / Skerik |
| Wiggedy Wack: (Jez Willis / Michael Stipe) | 2000 | Recd 2000: Michael Stipe / Utah Saints | |
| Wild Mountain Thyme: (Byrds) | 1989 | Recd 1989: Peter Buck / Robyn Hitchcock | |
| Wild Thing: (Troggs) | 1983 | Also live 1984: Hindu Love Gods w/ B. Cook / W. Zevon Also live 1990: P. Buck / K. Kinney | |
| Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone?: (Traditional) | 1993 | Recd 1993: Peter Buck / The Walkabouts | |
| Wimoweh: (Campbell / Peretti / Creatore /Weiss / Stanton) | 1983 | 1983 | Live 1983: A cappella Known as The Lion Sleeps Tonight Also live 1992 |
| Windout: (Jerry Ayers / B. Berry / P. Buck / M. Mills / M. Stipe) | 1980 | 1983 | Also live 1985: Peter Buck / Full Time Men Also recd 1985: Peter Buck / The Fleshtones |
| Windout: (Jerry Ayers / B. Berry / P. Buck / M. Mills / M. Stipe) | 1983 | Recd 1983: Vocals by Jefferson Holt & Bertis Downs with slightly different lyrics | |
| Winged Mammal Theme: | 1992 | ||
| Winter: (Tori Amos) | 1995 | As prelude to Let Me In | |
| Winter Goes Away: (Scott McCaughey) | 1995 | Live 1995: Peter Buck / The Minus 5 | |
| Wipe Out: (Surfaris) | 1987 | ||
| Wishing: (Christy McWilson) | 1996 | Live 1996: Peter Buck / The Minus 5 | |
| With A Girl Like You: (Reg Presley) | 1980 | Also live 1984: Hindu Love Gods w/ Bryan Cook on vocals | |
| With Love Comes Strange Currencies: | 1995 | 1994 | Known as Strange Currencies |
| With The People: (Kevn Kinney) | 1989 | 1988 | Live 1989: Medley with King of Birds Live 1989 / Recd 1988: Peter Buck / Drivin' n' Cryin' |
| Who Made The Bed: (Traditional) | 1986 | ||
| Wolves | 1981 | 1982 | Known as Wolves, Lower |
| Wolves, Lower: | 1981 | 1982 | Also known as Wolves |
| Woolly Bully: (Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs) | 1993 | Live 1993: Bill Berry / Mike Mills / NRBQ | |
| Word Up: (Cameo) | 1989 | Live 1989: Medley with After Hours | |
| Words And Knives: (Michael Stipe / Chickasaw Mudd Puppies) | 1991 | 1991 | Live 1991 / Recd 1991: Michael Stipe / Chickasaw Mudd Puppies |
| Words Words Words: (Pete Seeger) | 2001 | Recd 2001: Peter Buck / The Minus 5 | |
| Working Class Hero: (John Lennon) | 1989 | Live 1989: Peter Buck / Drivin' 'n' Cryin' | |
| World: (Bee Gees) | 2000 | Live 2000: Peter Buck / The Minus 5 | |
| World Falls: (Amy Ray) | 1990 | Recd 1990: Peter Buck / Indigo Girls | |
| World Leader Pretend: | 1989 | 1988 | Also live 1991: Bingo Hand Job |
| World Needs A Little More Love, The: (Bruce Joyner) | 1987 | Recd 1987: Peter Buck / Bruce Joyner | |
| Wormwood: (Barrett Martin / Justin Harwood / Steve Berlin / Skerik) | 1998 | Recd 1998: Peter Buck / Tuatara | |
| Worse: (Scott McCaughey / Jimmy Silva) | 1995 | Live 1995: Peter Buck / Mike Mills | |
| Wouldn't Want To Care: (Peter Buck / Scott McCaughey) | 1995 | 1997 | Live 1995: Peter Buck / The Minus 5 Recd 1997: Peter Buck / The Minus 5 |
| Wrong Child, The: | 1989 | 1988 | Also known as Beethoven |