Placebo's "Twenty Years" single (circa 2004)

Placebo is a rock band founded by Brian Molko in the 90s.  The single for twenty years was released on October 18, 2004 according to wikipedia.  On October 18, 2024, it will be TWENTY YEARS since its release.  The song seems to flirt about end times or some type of shift; makes mention of “who will wear the hat” … antichrist?  It talks about the “medicine show” … pandemic?  He mentions a “golden age”.   Friends holding a rose or holding a rope?

What is he talking about?

Here are the lyrics …

—

There are twenty years to go
And twenty ways to know
Who will wear, who will wear the hat

There are twenty years to go
Best of all I hope
Enjoy the ride, the medicine show

Thems the breaks for we designer fakes
We need to concentrate on more than meets the eye

There are twenty years to go
The faithful and the low
Best of starts, the broken heart, the stone

There are twenty years to go
The punch drunk and the blow
The worst of starts, the mercy part, the phone

Thems the breaks for we designer fakes
We need to concentrate on more than meets the eye
Thems the breaks for we designer fakes
But it’s you I take ’cause you’re the truth not I

There are twenty years to go
A golden age I know
But all will pass, and end too fast you know

There are twenty years to go
And many friends I hope
Though some may hold the rose, some hold the rope

And that’s the end and that’s the start of it
That’s the whole and that’s the part of it
That’s the high and that’s the heart of it
That’s the long and that’s the short of it
That’s the best and that’s the test in it
That’s the doubt to doubt the trust in it
That’s the sight and that’s the sound of it
That’s the gift and that’s the trick in it

You’re the truth, not I
You’re the truth, not I
You’re the truth, not I
You’re the truth, not I

You’re the truth, not I
You’re the truth, not I
You’re the truth, not I
You’re the truth, not I

—

Brian Molko starts to flash the 666 one eye sign right when he says “We need to concentrate on more than meets the eye”.

Is he trying to tell us something?

Link:

Placebo – Twenty Years (Official Music Video)