PHP/mySQL error that is driving me nuts!?

[jack]

I cannot figure this out and it's irritating me!

Parse error: parse error in C:\xampp\htdocs\sites\SHELL\files\functions.php on line 45

this is what the function is:

function sqlQuery($username, $field){

$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM users WHERE username=$username") or die mysql_error();

$row = mysql_fetch_array($result) or die mysql_error();

$return = $row[$field];

return $return;
}