The SAVE command in old BASICs used to tokenize the individual BASIC statements and inbuilt functions, eg PRINT, GOTO, CHR$(). It could also tokenize line numbers. But it certainly didn't do things like tokenize a FOR/NEXT loop or anything that went beyond a line break (eg GOSUB/RETURN).

Just typing those words sends me back too many years to a TTY on a PDP11/10 and when you "saved" a program by:

1. Typing LIST but not hitting CR

2. Start the tape punch and press HERE-IS a few times to get a leader

3. Hitting CR

4. Waiting for the listing to finish

5. Hitting HERE-IS a few times to get a trailer

6. Folding the paper tape neatly :)