Crossword Genius

Land of song when pitiful cries are heard (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

wales

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'land' is the definition.
(I know that Wales is a princedom)

'cries are heard' is the wordplay.
'cries' becomes 'wails' (wailing is a kind of crying).
'are heard' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'wails' sounds like 'WALES'.

'of song when pitiful' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for wales that I've seen before include "International team" , "Its emblem is the leek" , "Former principality" , "Home to Snowdonia and the Gower Peninsula" , "Home nation wearing red shirts for rugby" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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