Compose a ballad or cry before departure (3,6)
I believe the answer is:
all aboard
'departure' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot judge whether it can be defined by this definition.
'compose a ballad or cry' is the wordplay.
'compose' is an anagram indicator.
'cry' shows a homophone (sound like) (cried aloud).
'or' sounds like 'oar'.
'ballad'+'oar'='balladoar'
'balladoar' is an anagram of 'ALL ABOARD'.
'before' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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