Yearns to get money by composing a song (5)

I believe the answer is:

longs

'yearns' is the definition.
('long' can be a synonym of 'yearn')

'money by composing a song' is the wordplay.
'money' becomes 'l' (L can mean 'pounds'**).
'by' says to put letters next to each other.
'composing' is an anagram indicator.
'song' anagrammed gives 'ongs'.
'l'+'ongs'='LONGS'

'to get' acts as a link.

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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