"beat to the socks"

Jack Kerouac used to claim that the term "Beat Generation" came from the expression "beat to the socks". The other day, someone played me an old recording by a singer, pianist, songwriter named Fats Waller. His song had a line that went "when they play those swing songs it beats me to my socks". What does this expression mean?? Thanks. - Patty

A guess, but surely that the rhythm is so strong that your whole body reverberates to it - right down to your socks.