Boule de gomme literally translates to "chewing gum ball" or "ball of gum". It's a charming and somewhat whimsical phrase that serves as the nickname for the main character in the song.
In this context, it refers to a small, endearing man who is known for chewing gum and being an excellent dancer. The phrase is unique and memorable, giving a playful and affectionate image to the character, making it an enticing word to learn from the song.
"Boule de Gomme" is a light, storytelling chanson about a small, charming man everyone calls "Gumball" because he's always chewing gum to keep his teeth white. He's the best dancer in town, especially in the fashionable jive and boogie-woogie, and women adore him even though he's barely taller than three apples stacked up.
A rich foreign visitor, the daughter of a whisky magnate, comes to Paris and falls for him after watching him dance. They fall in love, marry in a grand ceremony, and eventually have children who grow up just as charming as their father, chewing gum and carrying on the family's playful reputation "to the maximum."
Aznavour tells the whole story with a wink, turning a nickname and a habit into a small, happy fairy tale about charm winning out over size.