diff --git a/expressions/expressions_test.go b/expressions/expressions_test.go
index f381c52..ead545b 100644
--- a/expressions/expressions_test.go
+++ b/expressions/expressions_test.go
@@ -21,6 +21,12 @@ var evaluatorTests = []struct {
 	{`'abc'`, "abc"},
 	{`"abc"`, "abc"},
 
+	{`"a\\bc"`, "a\\bc"},
+	{`"a\"bc"`, "a\"bc"},
+	{`"\u007b\u007b abc \u007d\u007d"`, "{{ abc }}"},
+	// TODO: single-quoted cannot be escaped
+	// {`'a\'bc'`, "a'bc"},
+
 	// Variables
 	{`n`, 123},
 
diff --git a/expressions/scanner.go b/expressions/scanner.go
index 774a168..d401334 100644
--- a/expressions/scanner.go
+++ b/expressions/scanner.go
@@ -17,197 +17,197 @@ var _expression_actions []byte = []byte{
 }
 
 var _expression_key_offsets []int16 = []int16{
-	0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
-	8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17,
+	0, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
+	8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17,
 	18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,
-	52, 55, 56, 57, 59, 60, 62, 65,
-	67, 73, 82, 83, 84, 85, 95, 96,
-	107, 118, 129, 140, 151, 162, 173, 184,
-	195, 206, 217, 228, 239, 250, 261, 272,
-	283, 294, 305,
+	26, 53, 56, 57, 59, 61, 62, 64,
+	67, 69, 75, 84, 85, 86, 87, 97,
+	98, 109, 120, 131, 142, 153, 164, 175,
+	186, 197, 208, 219, 230, 241, 252, 263,
+	274, 285, 296, 307,
 }
 
 var _expression_trans_keys []byte = []byte{
-	34, 115, 115, 105, 103, 110, 32, 111,
-	111, 112, 32, 39, 48, 57, 99, 119,
-	121, 99, 108, 101, 32, 104, 101, 110,
-	32, 32, 33, 34, 37, 39, 45, 46,
-	60, 61, 62, 95, 97, 99, 102, 105,
-	110, 111, 116, 123, 9, 13, 48, 57,
-	65, 90, 98, 122, 32, 9, 13, 61,
-	34, 97, 108, 39, 48, 57, 46, 48,
-	57, 48, 57, 46, 95, 65, 90, 97,
-	122, 45, 63, 95, 48, 57, 65, 90,
-	97, 122, 61, 61, 61, 45, 58, 63,
-	95, 48, 57, 65, 90, 97, 122, 58,
-	45, 58, 63, 95, 110, 48, 57, 65,
-	90, 97, 122, 45, 58, 63, 95, 100,
-	48, 57, 65, 90, 97, 122, 45, 58,
-	63, 95, 111, 48, 57, 65, 90, 97,
-	122, 45, 58, 63, 95, 110, 48, 57,
-	65, 90, 97, 122, 45, 58, 63, 95,
-	116, 48, 57, 65, 90, 97, 122, 45,
-	58, 63, 95, 97, 48, 57, 65, 90,
-	98, 122, 45, 58, 63, 95, 105, 48,
+	34, 92, 115, 115, 105, 103, 110, 32,
+	111, 111, 112, 32, 39, 48, 57, 99,
+	119, 121, 99, 108, 101, 32, 104, 101,
+	110, 32, 32, 33, 34, 37, 39, 45,
+	46, 60, 61, 62, 95, 97, 99, 102,
+	105, 110, 111, 116, 123, 9, 13, 48,
+	57, 65, 90, 98, 122, 32, 9, 13,
+	61, 34, 92, 97, 108, 39, 48, 57,
+	46, 48, 57, 48, 57, 46, 95, 65,
+	90, 97, 122, 45, 63, 95, 48, 57,
+	65, 90, 97, 122, 61, 61, 61, 45,
+	58, 63, 95, 48, 57, 65, 90, 97,
+	122, 58, 45, 58, 63, 95, 110, 48,
 	57, 65, 90, 97, 122, 45, 58, 63,
-	95, 110, 48, 57, 65, 90, 97, 122,
-	45, 58, 63, 95, 115, 48, 57, 65,
-	90, 97, 122, 45, 58, 63, 95, 97,
-	48, 57, 65, 90, 98, 122, 45, 58,
-	63, 95, 108, 48, 57, 65, 90, 97,
-	122, 45, 58, 63, 95, 115, 48, 57,
-	65, 90, 97, 122, 45, 58, 63, 95,
-	101, 48, 57, 65, 90, 97, 122, 45,
+	95, 100, 48, 57, 65, 90, 97, 122,
+	45, 58, 63, 95, 111, 48, 57, 65,
+	90, 97, 122, 45, 58, 63, 95, 110,
+	48, 57, 65, 90, 97, 122, 45, 58,
+	63, 95, 116, 48, 57, 65, 90, 97,
+	122, 45, 58, 63, 95, 97, 48, 57,
+	65, 90, 98, 122, 45, 58, 63, 95,
+	105, 48, 57, 65, 90, 97, 122, 45,
 	58, 63, 95, 110, 48, 57, 65, 90,
-	97, 122, 45, 58, 63, 95, 105, 48,
+	97, 122, 45, 58, 63, 95, 115, 48,
 	57, 65, 90, 97, 122, 45, 58, 63,
-	95, 108, 48, 57, 65, 90, 97, 122,
-	45, 58, 63, 95, 114, 48, 57, 65,
-	90, 97, 122, 45, 58, 63, 95, 114,
+	95, 97, 48, 57, 65, 90, 98, 122,
+	45, 58, 63, 95, 108, 48, 57, 65,
+	90, 97, 122, 45, 58, 63, 95, 115,
 	48, 57, 65, 90, 97, 122, 45, 58,
-	63, 95, 117, 48, 57, 65, 90, 97,
-	122, 37,
+	63, 95, 101, 48, 57, 65, 90, 97,
+	122, 45, 58, 63, 95, 110, 48, 57,
+	65, 90, 97, 122, 45, 58, 63, 95,
+	105, 48, 57, 65, 90, 97, 122, 45,
+	58, 63, 95, 108, 48, 57, 65, 90,
+	97, 122, 45, 58, 63, 95, 114, 48,
+	57, 65, 90, 97, 122, 45, 58, 63,
+	95, 114, 48, 57, 65, 90, 97, 122,
+	45, 58, 63, 95, 117, 48, 57, 65,
+	90, 97, 122, 37,
 }
 
 var _expression_single_lengths []byte = []byte{
+	2, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1,
+	1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 2, 1,
 	1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1,
-	1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 2, 1, 1,
-	1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 19,
-	1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 0, 1, 0,
-	2, 3, 1, 1, 1, 4, 1, 5,
+	19, 1, 1, 2, 2, 1, 0, 1,
+	0, 2, 3, 1, 1, 1, 4, 1,
 	5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5,
 	5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5,
-	5, 5, 1,
+	5, 5, 5, 1,
 }
 
 var _expression_range_lengths []byte = []byte{
 	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
-	0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0,
-	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 4,
-	1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1,
-	2, 3, 0, 0, 0, 3, 0, 3,
+	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0,
+	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+	4, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1,
+	1, 2, 3, 0, 0, 0, 3, 0,
 	3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3,
 	3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3,
-	3, 3, 0,
+	3, 3, 3, 0,
 }
 
 var _expression_index_offsets []int16 = []int16{
-	0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14,
-	16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 29, 31,
+	0, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14,
+	16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 31,
 	33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47,
-	71, 74, 76, 78, 81, 83, 85, 88,
-	90, 95, 102, 104, 106, 108, 116, 118,
-	127, 136, 145, 154, 163, 172, 181, 190,
-	199, 208, 217, 226, 235, 244, 253, 262,
-	271, 280, 289,
+	49, 73, 76, 78, 81, 84, 86, 88,
+	91, 93, 98, 105, 107, 109, 111, 119,
+	121, 130, 139, 148, 157, 166, 175, 184,
+	193, 202, 211, 220, 229, 238, 247, 256,
+	265, 274, 283, 292,
 }
 
 var _expression_indicies []byte = []byte{
-	2, 1, 3, 0, 4, 0, 5, 0,
+	2, 3, 1, 1, 4, 0, 5, 0,
 	6, 0, 7, 0, 8, 0, 9, 0,
-	10, 0, 11, 0, 12, 0, 2, 13,
-	15, 14, 16, 17, 0, 18, 0, 19,
+	10, 0, 11, 0, 12, 0, 13, 0,
+	2, 14, 16, 15, 17, 18, 0, 19,
 	0, 20, 0, 21, 0, 22, 0, 23,
-	0, 24, 0, 25, 0, 26, 0, 28,
-	29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37,
-	38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45,
-	46, 47, 28, 35, 39, 39, 27, 28,
-	28, 48, 50, 49, 2, 1, 51, 52,
-	49, 2, 13, 35, 49, 54, 35, 53,
-	15, 55, 56, 57, 57, 57, 49, 57,
-	59, 57, 57, 57, 57, 58, 60, 49,
-	61, 49, 62, 49, 39, 64, 65, 39,
-	39, 39, 39, 63, 64, 66, 39, 64,
-	65, 39, 67, 39, 39, 39, 66, 39,
-	64, 65, 39, 68, 39, 39, 39, 66,
-	39, 64, 65, 39, 69, 39, 39, 39,
-	66, 39, 64, 65, 39, 70, 39, 39,
-	39, 66, 39, 64, 65, 39, 71, 39,
-	39, 39, 66, 39, 64, 65, 39, 72,
-	39, 39, 39, 66, 39, 64, 65, 39,
-	73, 39, 39, 39, 66, 39, 64, 65,
-	39, 74, 39, 39, 39, 66, 39, 64,
-	65, 39, 75, 39, 39, 39, 66, 39,
-	64, 65, 39, 76, 39, 39, 39, 66,
-	39, 64, 65, 39, 77, 39, 39, 39,
-	66, 39, 64, 65, 39, 78, 39, 39,
-	39, 66, 39, 64, 65, 39, 79, 39,
-	39, 39, 66, 39, 64, 65, 39, 80,
-	39, 39, 39, 66, 39, 64, 65, 39,
-	81, 39, 39, 39, 66, 39, 64, 65,
-	39, 82, 39, 39, 39, 66, 39, 64,
-	65, 39, 83, 39, 39, 39, 66, 39,
-	64, 65, 39, 84, 39, 39, 39, 66,
-	39, 64, 65, 39, 78, 39, 39, 39,
-	66, 85, 49,
+	0, 24, 0, 25, 0, 26, 0, 27,
+	0, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,
+	37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44,
+	45, 46, 47, 48, 29, 36, 40, 40,
+	28, 29, 29, 49, 51, 50, 2, 3,
+	1, 52, 53, 50, 2, 14, 36, 50,
+	55, 36, 54, 16, 56, 57, 58, 58,
+	58, 50, 58, 60, 58, 58, 58, 58,
+	59, 61, 50, 62, 50, 63, 50, 40,
+	65, 66, 40, 40, 40, 40, 64, 65,
+	67, 40, 65, 66, 40, 68, 40, 40,
+	40, 67, 40, 65, 66, 40, 69, 40,
+	40, 40, 67, 40, 65, 66, 40, 70,
+	40, 40, 40, 67, 40, 65, 66, 40,
+	71, 40, 40, 40, 67, 40, 65, 66,
+	40, 72, 40, 40, 40, 67, 40, 65,
+	66, 40, 73, 40, 40, 40, 67, 40,
+	65, 66, 40, 74, 40, 40, 40, 67,
+	40, 65, 66, 40, 75, 40, 40, 40,
+	67, 40, 65, 66, 40, 76, 40, 40,
+	40, 67, 40, 65, 66, 40, 77, 40,
+	40, 40, 67, 40, 65, 66, 40, 78,
+	40, 40, 40, 67, 40, 65, 66, 40,
+	79, 40, 40, 40, 67, 40, 65, 66,
+	40, 80, 40, 40, 40, 67, 40, 65,
+	66, 40, 81, 40, 40, 40, 67, 40,
+	65, 66, 40, 82, 40, 40, 40, 67,
+	40, 65, 66, 40, 83, 40, 40, 40,
+	67, 40, 65, 66, 40, 84, 40, 40,
+	40, 67, 40, 65, 66, 40, 85, 40,
+	40, 40, 67, 40, 65, 66, 40, 79,
+	40, 40, 40, 67, 86, 50,
 }
 
 var _expression_trans_targs []byte = []byte{
-	23, 0, 23, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
-	23, 8, 9, 10, 23, 11, 23, 31,
-	14, 19, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23, 20,
-	21, 22, 23, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27,
-	28, 29, 32, 30, 34, 35, 36, 37,
-	39, 41, 48, 52, 53, 55, 56, 58,
-	23, 23, 23, 1, 7, 23, 12, 23,
-	23, 33, 23, 23, 23, 23, 23, 23,
-	23, 38, 23, 40, 37, 42, 43, 44,
-	45, 46, 47, 37, 49, 50, 51, 37,
-	37, 54, 37, 37, 57, 13,
+	24, 0, 24, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6,
+	7, 24, 9, 10, 11, 24, 12, 24,
+	32, 15, 20, 16, 17, 18, 19, 24,
+	21, 22, 23, 24, 24, 25, 26, 27,
+	28, 29, 30, 33, 31, 35, 36, 37,
+	38, 40, 42, 49, 53, 54, 56, 57,
+	59, 24, 24, 24, 2, 8, 24, 13,
+	24, 24, 34, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24,
+	24, 24, 39, 24, 41, 38, 43, 44,
+	45, 46, 47, 48, 38, 50, 51, 52,
+	38, 38, 55, 38, 38, 58, 14,
 }
 
 var _expression_trans_actions []byte = []byte{
 	47, 0, 15, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
-	7, 0, 0, 0, 11, 0, 45, 0,
-	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 9, 0,
-	0, 0, 13, 31, 0, 0, 5, 5,
-	5, 0, 0, 5, 0, 0, 0, 69,
-	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 5,
-	41, 43, 19, 0, 0, 33, 0, 35,
-	25, 0, 39, 29, 23, 17, 21, 49,
-	27, 0, 37, 0, 57, 0, 0, 0,
-	0, 0, 0, 63, 0, 0, 0, 51,
-	66, 0, 54, 60, 0, 0,
+	0, 7, 0, 0, 0, 11, 0, 45,
+	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 9,
+	0, 0, 0, 13, 31, 0, 0, 5,
+	5, 5, 0, 0, 5, 0, 0, 0,
+	69, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+	5, 41, 43, 19, 0, 0, 33, 0,
+	35, 25, 0, 39, 29, 23, 17, 21,
+	49, 27, 0, 37, 0, 57, 0, 0,
+	0, 0, 0, 0, 63, 0, 0, 0,
+	51, 66, 0, 54, 60, 0, 0,
 }
 
 var _expression_to_state_actions []byte = []byte{
 	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
 	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
-	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1,
 	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+	1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
 	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
 	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
 	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
-	0, 0, 0,
+	0, 0, 0, 0,
 }
 
 var _expression_from_state_actions []byte = []byte{
 	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
 	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
-	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 3,
 	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+	3, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
 	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
 	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
 	0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
-	0, 0, 0,
+	0, 0, 0, 0,
 }
 
 var _expression_eof_trans []int16 = []int16{
 	1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1,
-	1, 1, 1, 1, 15, 1, 1, 1,
-	1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0,
-	49, 50, 50, 50, 50, 50, 54, 56,
-	50, 59, 50, 50, 50, 64, 67, 67,
-	67, 67, 67, 67, 67, 67, 67, 67,
-	67, 67, 67, 67, 67, 67, 67, 67,
-	67, 67, 50,
+	1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 16, 1, 1,
+	1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1,
+	0, 50, 51, 51, 51, 51, 51, 55,
+	57, 51, 60, 51, 51, 51, 65, 68,
+	68, 68, 68, 68, 68, 68, 68, 68,
+	68, 68, 68, 68, 68, 68, 68, 68,
+	68, 68, 68, 51,
 }
 
-const expression_start int = 23
-const expression_first_final int = 23
+const expression_start int = 24
+const expression_first_final int = 24
 const expression_error int = -1
 
-const expression_en_main int = 23
+const expression_en_main int = 24
 
 //line scanner.rl:11
 
@@ -344,25 +344,25 @@ func (lex *lexer) Lex(out *yySymType) int {
 //line scanner.rl:38
 				lex.act = 8
 			case 4:
-//line scanner.rl:95
+//line scanner.rl:109
 				lex.act = 9
 			case 5:
-//line scanner.rl:102
+//line scanner.rl:116
 				lex.act = 14
 			case 6:
-//line scanner.rl:103
+//line scanner.rl:117
 				lex.act = 15
 			case 7:
-//line scanner.rl:104
+//line scanner.rl:118
 				lex.act = 16
 			case 8:
-//line scanner.rl:107
+//line scanner.rl:121
 				lex.act = 17
 			case 9:
 //line scanner.rl:43
 				lex.act = 20
 			case 10:
-//line scanner.rl:83
+//line scanner.rl:97
 				lex.te = (lex.p) + 1
 				{
 					tok = ASSIGN
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ func (lex *lexer) Lex(out *yySymType) int {
 					goto _out
 				}
 			case 11:
-//line scanner.rl:84
+//line scanner.rl:98
 				lex.te = (lex.p) + 1
 				{
 					tok = CYCLE
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ func (lex *lexer) Lex(out *yySymType) int {
 					goto _out
 				}
 			case 12:
-//line scanner.rl:85
+//line scanner.rl:99
 				lex.te = (lex.p) + 1
 				{
 					tok = LOOP
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ func (lex *lexer) Lex(out *yySymType) int {
 					goto _out
 				}
 			case 13:
-//line scanner.rl:86
+//line scanner.rl:100
 				lex.te = (lex.p) + 1
 				{
 					tok = WHEN
@@ -398,14 +398,26 @@ func (lex *lexer) Lex(out *yySymType) int {
 				lex.te = (lex.p) + 1
 				{
 					tok = LITERAL
-					// TODO unescape \x
-					out.val = string(lex.data[lex.ts+1 : lex.te-1])
+
+					var s string
+					// TODO: single-quoted cannot be escaped
+					if lex.data[lex.ts] == '\'' {
+						s = string(lex.data[lex.ts+1 : lex.te-1])
+					} else {
+						unquotedStr, err := strconv.Unquote(string(lex.data[lex.ts:lex.te]))
+						if err != nil {
+							panic(err)
+						}
+						s = unquotedStr
+					}
+
+					out.val = s
 					(lex.p)++
 					goto _out
 
 				}
 			case 15:
-//line scanner.rl:98
+//line scanner.rl:112
 				lex.te = (lex.p) + 1
 				{
 					tok = EQ
@@ -413,7 +425,7 @@ func (lex *lexer) Lex(out *yySymType) int {
 					goto _out
 				}
 			case 16:
-//line scanner.rl:99
+//line scanner.rl:113
 				lex.te = (lex.p) + 1
 				{
 					tok = NEQ
@@ -421,7 +433,7 @@ func (lex *lexer) Lex(out *yySymType) int {
 					goto _out
 				}
 			case 17:
-//line scanner.rl:100
+//line scanner.rl:114
 				lex.te = (lex.p) + 1
 				{
 					tok = GE
@@ -429,7 +441,7 @@ func (lex *lexer) Lex(out *yySymType) int {
 					goto _out
 				}
 			case 18:
-//line scanner.rl:101
+//line scanner.rl:115
 				lex.te = (lex.p) + 1
 				{
 					tok = LE
@@ -437,7 +449,7 @@ func (lex *lexer) Lex(out *yySymType) int {
 					goto _out
 				}
 			case 19:
-//line scanner.rl:108
+//line scanner.rl:122
 				lex.te = (lex.p) + 1
 				{
 					tok = DOTDOT
@@ -445,7 +457,7 @@ func (lex *lexer) Lex(out *yySymType) int {
 					goto _out
 				}
 			case 20:
-//line scanner.rl:110
+//line scanner.rl:124
 				lex.te = (lex.p) + 1
 				{
 					tok = KEYWORD
@@ -454,7 +466,7 @@ func (lex *lexer) Lex(out *yySymType) int {
 					goto _out
 				}
 			case 21:
-//line scanner.rl:112
+//line scanner.rl:126
 				lex.te = (lex.p) + 1
 				{
 					tok = PROPERTY
@@ -463,7 +475,7 @@ func (lex *lexer) Lex(out *yySymType) int {
 					goto _out
 				}
 			case 22:
-//line scanner.rl:115
+//line scanner.rl:129
 				lex.te = (lex.p) + 1
 				{
 					tok = int(lex.data[lex.ts])
@@ -512,7 +524,7 @@ func (lex *lexer) Lex(out *yySymType) int {
 
 				}
 			case 26:
-//line scanner.rl:112
+//line scanner.rl:126
 				lex.te = (lex.p)
 				(lex.p)--
 				{
@@ -522,12 +534,12 @@ func (lex *lexer) Lex(out *yySymType) int {
 					goto _out
 				}
 			case 27:
-//line scanner.rl:114
+//line scanner.rl:128
 				lex.te = (lex.p)
 				(lex.p)--
 
 			case 28:
-//line scanner.rl:115
+//line scanner.rl:129
 				lex.te = (lex.p)
 				(lex.p)--
 				{
@@ -550,7 +562,7 @@ func (lex *lexer) Lex(out *yySymType) int {
 
 				}
 			case 30:
-//line scanner.rl:115
+//line scanner.rl:129
 				(lex.p) = (lex.te) - 1
 				{
 					tok = int(lex.data[lex.ts])
@@ -618,7 +630,7 @@ func (lex *lexer) Lex(out *yySymType) int {
 					}
 				}
 
-//line scanner.go:552
+//line scanner.go:564
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -633,7 +645,7 @@ func (lex *lexer) Lex(out *yySymType) int {
 //line NONE:1
 				lex.ts = 0
 
-//line scanner.go:566
+//line scanner.go:578
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -656,7 +668,7 @@ func (lex *lexer) Lex(out *yySymType) int {
 		}
 	}
 
-//line scanner.rl:119
+//line scanner.rl:133
 
 	return tok
 }
diff --git a/expressions/scanner.rl b/expressions/scanner.rl
index 20a6e2a..da00468 100644
--- a/expressions/scanner.rl
+++ b/expressions/scanner.rl
@@ -65,8 +65,20 @@ func (lex *lexer) Lex(out *yySymType) int {
 		}
 		action String {
 			tok = LITERAL
-			// TODO unescape \x
-			out.val = string(lex.data[lex.ts+1:lex.te-1])
+
+			var s string
+			// TODO: single-quoted cannot be escaped
+			if lex.data[lex.ts] == '\'' {
+				s = string(lex.data[lex.ts+1:lex.te-1])
+			} else {
+				unquotedStr, err := strconv.Unquote(string(lex.data[lex.ts:lex.te]))
+				if err != nil {
+					panic(err)
+				}
+				s = unquotedStr
+			}
+
+			out.val = s
 			fbreak;
 		}
 		action Relation { tok = RELATION; out.name = lex.token(); fbreak; }
@@ -76,7 +88,9 @@ func (lex *lexer) Lex(out *yySymType) int {
 		property = '.' (alpha | '_') . (alnum | '_' | '-')* '?' ? ;
 		int = '-'? digit+ ;
 		float = '-'? digit+ ('.' digit+)? ;
-		string = '"' (any - '"')* '"' | "'" (any - "'")* "'" ; # TODO escapes
+
+		dqchar = [^"\\] | ( '\\' any );
+		string = '"' . dqchar* . '"' | "'" (any - "'")*  "'" ;
 
 		main := |*
 			# statement selectors, should match constants in parser.go
diff --git a/expressions/y.go b/expressions/y.go
index dd62703..5051c7c 100644
--- a/expressions/y.go
+++ b/expressions/y.go
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+// Code generated by goyacc expressions.y. DO NOT EDIT.
+
 //line expressions.y:2
 package expressions
 
@@ -84,6 +86,7 @@ var yyToknames = [...]string{
 	"'['",
 	"']'",
 }
+
 var yyStatenames = [...]string{}
 
 const yyEofCode = 1
@@ -108,7 +111,6 @@ const yyPrivate = 57344
 const yyLast = 104
 
 var yyAct = [...]int{
-
 	9, 74, 46, 41, 8, 87, 78, 23, 14, 15,
 	18, 10, 11, 25, 42, 3, 4, 5, 6, 25,
 	37, 58, 10, 11, 40, 42, 45, 50, 51, 52,
@@ -121,8 +123,8 @@ var yyAct = [...]int{
 	85, 86, 83, 19, 34, 2, 1, 73, 20, 39,
 	17, 22, 67, 63,
 }
-var yyPact = [...]int{
 
+var yyPact = [...]int{
 	7, -1000, 60, 76, 89, 71, 18, -1000, 19, 49,
 	-1000, -1000, 18, -1000, 18, 18, -6, 14, -3, -1000,
 	10, 38, 1, 39, 83, -1000, 18, 18, 18, 18,
@@ -133,29 +135,29 @@ var yyPact = [...]int{
 	-1000, -1000, -1000, 69, 20, -1000, -1000, -1000, 18, -1000,
 	88, 86, 6, -1000, -25, -1000, -1000, -1000,
 }
-var yyPgo = [...]int{
 
+var yyPgo = [...]int{
 	0, 0, 71, 4, 94, 1, 103, 102, 101, 2,
 	100, 99, 3, 98, 97, 10, 96,
 }
-var yyR1 = [...]int{
 
+var yyR1 = [...]int{
 	0, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 10, 11, 11, 12,
 	12, 8, 9, 9, 15, 13, 6, 6, 5, 5,
 	14, 14, 14, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 3, 3,
 	3, 7, 7, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2,
 	2, 4, 4, 4,
 }
-var yyR2 = [...]int{
 
+var yyR2 = [...]int{
 	0, 2, 5, 3, 3, 3, 2, 3, 1, 0,
 	3, 2, 0, 3, 1, 4, 5, 1, 1, 1,
 	0, 2, 3, 1, 1, 2, 4, 3, 1, 3,
 	4, 1, 3, 1, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3,
 	3, 1, 3, 3,
 }
-var yyChk = [...]int{
 
+var yyChk = [...]int{
 	-1000, -16, -4, 8, 9, 10, 11, -2, -3, -1,
 	4, 5, 29, 25, 17, 18, 5, -10, -15, 4,
 	-13, 5, -8, -1, 22, 7, 31, 12, 13, 24,
@@ -166,8 +168,8 @@ var yyChk = [...]int{
 	25, -12, -12, -14, -5, 4, 5, -9, 28, 5,
 	6, 20, -1, 4, -5, 4, 5, 30,
 }
-var yyDef = [...]int{
 
+var yyDef = [...]int{
 	0, -2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 41, 33, 28,
 	23, 24, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 9, 14,
 	0, 0, 0, 12, 0, 25, 0, 0, 0, 0,
@@ -178,8 +180,8 @@ var yyDef = [...]int{
 	2, 7, 10, 15, 0, -2, -2, 13, 0, 21,
 	0, 0, 32, 22, 0, 18, 19, 16,
 }
-var yyTok1 = [...]int{
 
+var yyTok1 = [...]int{
 	1, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3,
 	3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3,
 	3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3,
@@ -194,11 +196,12 @@ var yyTok1 = [...]int{
 	3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3,
 	3, 3, 3, 3, 22,
 }
-var yyTok2 = [...]int{
 
+var yyTok2 = [...]int{
 	2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
 	12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
 }
+
 var yyTok3 = [...]int{
 	0,
 }
@@ -542,87 +545,87 @@ yydefault:
 
 	case 1:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-2 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:46
+//line expressions.y:46
 		{
 			yylex.(*lexer).val = yyDollar[1].f
 		}
 	case 2:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-5 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:47
+//line expressions.y:47
 		{
 			yylex.(*lexer).Assignment = Assignment{yyDollar[2].name, &expression{yyDollar[4].f}}
 		}
 	case 3:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-3 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:50
+//line expressions.y:50
 		{
 			yylex.(*lexer).Cycle = yyDollar[2].cycle
 		}
 	case 4:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-3 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:51
+//line expressions.y:51
 		{
 			yylex.(*lexer).Loop = yyDollar[2].loop
 		}
 	case 5:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-3 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:52
+//line expressions.y:52
 		{
 			yylex.(*lexer).When = When{yyDollar[2].exprs}
 		}
 	case 6:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-2 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:55
+//line expressions.y:55
 		{
 			yyVAL.cycle = yyDollar[2].cyclefn(yyDollar[1].s)
 		}
 	case 7:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-3 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:58
+//line expressions.y:58
 		{
 			h, t := yyDollar[2].s, yyDollar[3].ss
 			yyVAL.cyclefn = func(g string) Cycle { return Cycle{g, append([]string{h}, t...)} }
 		}
 	case 8:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-1 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:62
+//line expressions.y:62
 		{
 			vals := yyDollar[1].ss
 			yyVAL.cyclefn = func(h string) Cycle { return Cycle{Values: append([]string{h}, vals...)} }
 		}
 	case 9:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-0 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:69
+//line expressions.y:69
 		{
 			yyVAL.ss = []string{}
 		}
 	case 10:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-3 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:70
+//line expressions.y:70
 		{
 			yyVAL.ss = append([]string{yyDollar[2].s}, yyDollar[3].ss...)
 		}
 	case 11:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-2 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:73
+//line expressions.y:73
 		{
 			yyVAL.exprs = append([]Expression{&expression{yyDollar[1].f}}, yyDollar[2].exprs...)
 		}
 	case 12:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-0 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:75
+//line expressions.y:75
 		{
 			yyVAL.exprs = []Expression{}
 		}
 	case 13:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-3 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:76
+//line expressions.y:76
 		{
 			yyVAL.exprs = append([]Expression{&expression{yyDollar[2].f}}, yyDollar[3].exprs...)
 		}
 	case 14:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-1 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:79
+//line expressions.y:79
 		{
 			s, ok := yyDollar[1].val.(string)
 			if !ok {
@@ -632,40 +635,40 @@ yydefault:
 		}
 	case 15:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-4 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:87
+//line expressions.y:87
 		{
 			name, expr, mods := yyDollar[1].name, yyDollar[3].f, yyDollar[4].loopmods
 			yyVAL.loop = Loop{name, &expression{expr}, mods}
 		}
 	case 16:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-5 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:93
+//line expressions.y:93
 		{
 			yyVAL.f = makeRangeExpr(yyDollar[2].f, yyDollar[4].f)
 		}
 	case 18:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-1 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:101
+//line expressions.y:101
 		{
 			val := yyDollar[1].val
 			yyVAL.f = func(Context) values.Value { return values.ValueOf(val) }
 		}
 	case 19:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-1 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:102
+//line expressions.y:102
 		{
 			name := yyDollar[1].name
 			yyVAL.f = func(ctx Context) values.Value { return values.ValueOf(ctx.Get(name)) }
 		}
 	case 20:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-0 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:105
+//line expressions.y:105
 		{
 			yyVAL.loopmods = loopModifiers{Cols: math.MaxUint32}
 		}
 	case 21:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-2 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:106
+//line expressions.y:106
 		{
 			switch yyDollar[2].name {
 			case "reversed":
@@ -677,7 +680,7 @@ yydefault:
 		}
 	case 22:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-3 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:115
+//line expressions.y:115
 		{ // TODO can this be a variable?
 			switch yyDollar[2].name {
 			case "cols":
@@ -705,63 +708,63 @@ yydefault:
 		}
 	case 23:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-1 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:143
+//line expressions.y:143
 		{
 			val := yyDollar[1].val
 			yyVAL.f = func(Context) values.Value { return values.ValueOf(val) }
 		}
 	case 24:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-1 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:144
+//line expressions.y:144
 		{
 			name := yyDollar[1].name
 			yyVAL.f = func(ctx Context) values.Value { return values.ValueOf(ctx.Get(name)) }
 		}
 	case 25:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-2 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:145
+//line expressions.y:145
 		{
 			yyVAL.f = makeObjectPropertyExpr(yyDollar[1].f, yyDollar[2].name)
 		}
 	case 26:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-4 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:146
+//line expressions.y:146
 		{
 			yyVAL.f = makeIndexExpr(yyDollar[1].f, yyDollar[3].f)
 		}
 	case 27:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-3 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:147
+//line expressions.y:147
 		{
 			yyVAL.f = yyDollar[2].f
 		}
 	case 29:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-3 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:152
+//line expressions.y:152
 		{
 			yyVAL.f = makeFilter(yyDollar[1].f, yyDollar[3].name, nil)
 		}
 	case 30:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-4 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:153
+//line expressions.y:153
 		{
 			yyVAL.f = makeFilter(yyDollar[1].f, yyDollar[3].name, yyDollar[4].filter_params)
 		}
 	case 31:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-1 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:157
+//line expressions.y:157
 		{
 			yyVAL.filter_params = []valueFn{yyDollar[1].f}
 		}
 	case 32:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-3 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:159
+//line expressions.y:159
 		{
 			yyVAL.filter_params = append(yyDollar[1].filter_params, yyDollar[3].f)
 		}
 	case 34:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-3 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:163
+//line expressions.y:163
 		{
 			fa, fb := yyDollar[1].f, yyDollar[3].f
 			yyVAL.f = func(ctx Context) values.Value {
@@ -771,7 +774,7 @@ yydefault:
 		}
 	case 35:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-3 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:170
+//line expressions.y:170
 		{
 			fa, fb := yyDollar[1].f, yyDollar[3].f
 			yyVAL.f = func(ctx Context) values.Value {
@@ -781,7 +784,7 @@ yydefault:
 		}
 	case 36:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-3 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:177
+//line expressions.y:177
 		{
 			fa, fb := yyDollar[1].f, yyDollar[3].f
 			yyVAL.f = func(ctx Context) values.Value {
@@ -791,7 +794,7 @@ yydefault:
 		}
 	case 37:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-3 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:184
+//line expressions.y:184
 		{
 			fa, fb := yyDollar[1].f, yyDollar[3].f
 			yyVAL.f = func(ctx Context) values.Value {
@@ -801,7 +804,7 @@ yydefault:
 		}
 	case 38:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-3 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:191
+//line expressions.y:191
 		{
 			fa, fb := yyDollar[1].f, yyDollar[3].f
 			yyVAL.f = func(ctx Context) values.Value {
@@ -811,7 +814,7 @@ yydefault:
 		}
 	case 39:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-3 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:198
+//line expressions.y:198
 		{
 			fa, fb := yyDollar[1].f, yyDollar[3].f
 			yyVAL.f = func(ctx Context) values.Value {
@@ -821,13 +824,13 @@ yydefault:
 		}
 	case 40:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-3 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:205
+//line expressions.y:205
 		{
 			yyVAL.f = makeContainsExpr(yyDollar[1].f, yyDollar[3].f)
 		}
 	case 42:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-3 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:210
+//line expressions.y:210
 		{
 			fa, fb := yyDollar[1].f, yyDollar[3].f
 			yyVAL.f = func(ctx Context) values.Value {
@@ -836,7 +839,7 @@ yydefault:
 		}
 	case 43:
 		yyDollar = yyS[yypt-3 : yypt+1]
-		//line expressions.y:216
+//line expressions.y:216
 		{
 			fa, fb := yyDollar[1].f, yyDollar[3].f
 			yyVAL.f = func(ctx Context) values.Value {