parse_mp3() { artist=`$ID3INFO $1 | grep TPE1 | cut -d: -f 2` album=`$ID3INFO $1 | grep TALB | cut -d: -f 2` track=`$ID3INFO $1 | grep TRCK | cut -d: -f 2` title=`$ID3INFO $1 | grep TIT2 | cut -d: -f 2` if [[ $f_query -eq 0 ]]; then ls $1 | sed -e "s/\(.*\)/\1 \|\| artist:$artist\|album:$album\|track:$track\|title:$title/" else file_tag=${!query_name} query_tag=$query_value if [[ "$file_tag"=="$query_tag" ]]; then echo $file_tag echo $query_tag ls $1 | sed -e "s/\(.*\)/\1 \|\| artist:$artist\|album:$album\|track:$track\|title:$title/" fi fi } # output: #Lindstrom #Lindstrom #/home/gilligan/testing//11-lindstrom-the_contemporary_fix.mp3 || artist: Lindstrom|album: Its_A_Feedelity_Affair|track:|title: The Contemporary Fix #Metal Gear Solid #Lindstrom #/home/gilligan/testing//metal_gear_solid.mp3 || artist: Metal Gear Solid|album: Album|track: 18|title: Track 18 # ^ here the strings are not equal ?!?