The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word PLAINTS
P
L
A
I
N
T
S
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Laments" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case laments = plaints.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PLAINTS mean?
PLAINTS noun- A lament or woeful cry.
- A complaint.
- A sad song.
- An accusation.